In a heated post-match reflection, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna didn’t hold back as he lambasted VAR following a stop-start 1-0 home defeat to Brentford. The Premier League clash, marred by frequent interventions from the video assistant referee, left players and fans visibly frustrated – and McKenna squarely blamed the technology for “taking away from the game as a spectacle.”
Brentford’s Kevin Schade scored the decisive goal from a corner in the 18th minute, but that moment was just one of several disrupted by extended VAR checks, particularly for grappling incidents during set-pieces. McKenna voiced concern over what he described as unnecessary delays and marginal calls that shattered the rhythm of the game.
“I think it was two teams being physical in the box,” McKenna explained. “In its current guise I don’t think [VAR] is adding to the game.”
He pointed to similar frustrations in a recent match against Newcastle, noting that decisions which should be “clear and obvious” are now taking minutes to assess. “Supporters in the stadium are standing around or sitting in silence, players are standing around… waiting while things are getting reviewed for minutes on end,” he said.
McKenna detailed several contentious moments from the match, including a potential penalty involving Jacob Greaves and Sepp van den Berg and a confrontation between Jack Taylor and Christian Norgaard – both incidents which saw long pauses and yellow cards, even though the ball wasn’t in play.
He continued, “Things are being micro-analysed from different angles… and for me, that takes away from the game.”
Despite the defeat and relegation to the Championship, McKenna took some positives from his team’s performance, praising their resilience and fight, especially in the latter stages. He also highlighted the promising display from loanee Julio Enciso and explained that Conor Chaplin was substituted due to illness.
The loss marked Ipswich’s record eighth straight home defeat, but McKenna remains focused on development: “You still have to find the lessons to get better. That’s what we’ll continue to try and do.”
While Ipswich won’t contend with VAR next season, McKenna’s message is clear: in its current state, the system is doing more harm than good.
