Will the EFL ever have VAR as Coventry City boss Frank Lampard issues plea? | OneFootball

Frank Lampard has recently came out in favour of bringing VAR to the EFL, but will it ever actually be used in England beyond the Premier League?

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard believes that VAR would be beneficial in helping EFL referees get the big decisions right.

A 2-0 win on the final day secured the Sky Blues' status in the Championship play-offs, but their position was looking precarious going into the final day following a poor run of form which only saw three wins in their previous nine games.

Lampard ran into a bit of hot water during this downturn in form, being fined £2,000 and given a one-game touchline ban after confronting referee James Bell during their 2-1 defeat to Burnley last month.

In the penultimate game of the season, a 1-0 defeat away against Luton Town, City player Jay Dasilva was sent off in the 13th minute under controversial circumstances.

He was adjudged to have been the last defender when he fouled Millenic Alli, which Lampard called "debatable" as to whether it was the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.

Frank Lampard thinks that VAR would help the EFL

Lampard gave his opinion on the introduction of VAR, saying that it is necessary given the amount of money that decisions can impact, while also acknowledging that it may reduce the fan experience with regards to celebrating goals.

“I respect referees,” he told The i Paper. “It’s a really tough job. VAR is very controversial, some people love it, some hate it.

“There is something beautiful about not having to check when you celebrate a goal. But the support system of VAR, if used right, is a great help. The game is too fast and in my opinion too many decisions are being missed.

“We should push for VAR in the Championship. It’s one of the best leagues in the world to watch – it’s absolutely one of the best in the world to be involved in. And the prizes are too great for promotion and relegation.”

Lampard is all too familiar with questionable officiating, with his goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Germany clearly crossing the line, but not given.

That incident helped to spark a debate which ended with goal-line technology being implemented into the sport, and maybe contributes to his favourable opinion of VAR.

Play-off final VAR experiment

VAR will be used in the Championship play-off final this year, as it has been for the past few years, in what is potentially the EFL experimenting whether it works well in the competition and if there are any improvements to be made before using it fully.

The EFL has been criticised in the past for the standard of officiating and some fans may be relieved to see that technology could help to reduce the burden on officials.

But, as has been seen in the Premier League, there is still human error when VAR is involved.

If the play-off final goes well from an officiating point of view, they may be inclined to introduce it across an entire season in the Championship.