'Call it a day with VAR' - Rooney slams decision on Crystal Palace's controversial goal

Wayne Rooney said on Match of the Day that VAR made the wrong call in awarding Crystal Palace their second goal, which gave the hosts the lead in their win over Nottingham Forest.

Wayne Rooney has launched a scathing critique of VAR's decision-making, arguing that the video assistant referee got it badly wrong in awarding Crystal Palace their second goal during their victory over Nottingham Forest. Speaking on Match of the Day, the former England captain said the controversial strike should never have stood, and that the technology had once again failed in its core mission of correcting clear and obvious errors. His blunt verdict: it might be time to call it a day with VAR. The flashpoint came at a pivotal moment in the match. Palace pressed forward and, amid a scramble inside the penalty area, the ball ended up in the net. The on-field referee did not immediately signal a goal, and VAR was called upon to review the build-up. After a lengthy check, the video officials concluded there was insufficient evidence to overturn the original decision, and the goal was allowed to stand. That moment swung the game in Palace's favour, giving them the lead and the momentum to go on and beat Forest. Rooney was unequivocal in his assessment. He argued that replays showed a clear infringement in the build-up, whether a push on a defender or an illegal block that prevented Forest players from challenging for the ball. For him, that was precisely the kind of mistake VAR was introduced to fix. He questioned the consistency of the review process, asking how such an obvious foul could be overlooked when the entire purpose of the system is to catch errors that match officials miss in real time. The incident is the latest in a long line of VAR controversies in the Premier League. Critics have long complained about inconsistent thresholds, interminable reviews, and the murky definition of what constitutes a 'clear and obvious error'. Supporters insist the technology has improved fairness and reduced major mistakes, but detractors argue it has merely replaced one kind of controversy with another, while draining the spontaneity and flow from the game. Rooney's comments have thrust the debate back into the spotlight. For Nottingham Forest, the decision was especially painful. The visitors had competed well and were very much in the contest before the goal. But the controversial strike visibly rattled them, disrupting their shape and composure. They never fully recovered, and the sense of injustice lingered long after the final whistle. While the club stopped short of a formal appeal, the frustration behind the scenes was unmistakable. More broadly, the episode highlights the delicate balancing act between technological intervention and the human judgment that has always defined football. VAR was designed to pursue fairness, but when outcomes remain subjective, technology alone cannot settle every argument. Rooney's outburst may have been emotional, but it echoes the feelings of many fans and pundits who want clarity, consistency, and a process that does not sap the life out of the spectacle. As the season wears on, similar flashpoints are almost certain to recur. Crystal Palace will bank the three points; Forest will rue what might have been. And VAR, as ever, will remain the talking point long after the players have left the pitch. Rooney's call to 'call it a day' is less a throwaway line than a distillation of a growing frustration with a system that still cannot deliver the certainty it promised.

'Call it a day with VAR' - Rooney slams decision on Crystal Palace's controversial goal

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