Scott Parker complains about VAR after Burnley lose to a late Bruno Fernandes penalty at Man Utd on Saturday afternoon.
The Burnley boss said that the use of a video assistant referee was turning football “sterile” after his team’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, sealed by a controversial stoppage-time penalty.
Referee Sam Barrott initially waved away appeals for Jaidon Anthony’s shirt pull on Amad Diallo, however, VAR prompted a review, and led to Bruno Fernandes’ winning spot-kick.
Earlier in the game, Burnley’s Lyle Foster had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. There were also similar VAR disputes which marred Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham, including a disallowed goal and a penalty, with Fulham’s Marco Silva seething. See more on that HERE.
How is this offside? pic.twitter.com/xVY3BI1Ese
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) August 30, 2025
Burnley manager Scott Parker, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “My thoughts are I’m disappointed, gutted, but immensely proud of the team. Our reaction second half, I am proud.
“The way the game ends, it is the way the game has gone – quadruple checking every minute. The on field decision, the referee didn’t give the foul. Then we have re-reffed it, VAR seeing a clear and obvious error. It’s not the ref, it’s a fella 200-odd miles away in a box. That’s the way the game has gone.
“It’s a sterile game, a long time ago when you had the passion and celebration – now you are standing around and waiting.”
On what he changed at half-time: “We started really slowly, in the second half we were a threat and really deserving of the goals. I am proud of the group. Structurally we changed it, we could not land on second balls and gain any momentum. Our distances were a lot better in the second half.”
Parker per Sky Sports: “It’s the way the game is going. It’s going to become the most sterile game there is. We’re probably months or a year away from not celebrating goals.
“I stand on the touchline, you score a goal and I feel like there’s a million things go through your mind, a checklist, was it offside? Did he step on his toe two minutes before? We need to get a computer out.”
‘The days of us celebrating goals will be a distant memory’
Scott Parker voiced his criticism of VAR following Burnley’s loss to a late Bruno Fernandes penalty at Old Trafford 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/APcMinBAHb
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 30, 2025
Burnley defender Maxime Esteve, speaking to Premier League Productions: “We played a bad first half, we deserved to be more than one down. Second half, the gaffer changed things, we are all pushing in the right direction. So I think we deserved to come away with more than zero points.
On the late penalty decision: “A little bit unfair. On the opposite side, for us, I don’t think we get a penalty. Sometimes, some decisions – today was a big one.”
Burnley striker Lyle Foster, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “We put so much in, and in the end the decision doesn’t go your way which I think is unfair. It was really soft, and with roles reversed is it given to us? I don’t know. It is heartbreaking, but it is what it is.
On his disallowed goals:“I don’t understand how it was offside, and I’ve looked at it a few times. But that is how the game is now with VAR.”
On Burnley’s performance:“The way we played first half was not a proper demonstration of our game. We were shaken with the game plan, second half we regrouped. We were able to make chances, score two of them, including one from the long throw.”
Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim speaking to PLP: “It is three points, if you look at the game we should solve it in the first half and control the game – but we are fighting to the last minute because of things we overcomplicate.
“Look at the first half, we have so many chances to score. You feel you can control the game. But one throw in, one set piece. I shook my head, because sometimes football is like this.
“We now have two weeks with a lot of opportunities. This was a game we had to win, but we have a lot to do.”
On why he didn’t watch Bruno Fernandes’ penalty: “I like to see the image of the fans. What has to be has to be. In that moment, I was thinking, it would be fair to win the game. And I did not think Bruno would miss a second in a row.”
On whether he was thinking of his future before the penalty: “No, I was just thinking Bruno was not going to miss.”
Amorim speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I was frustrated like any Man Utd fan, we had chances to score more goals, create more chances. Today, the football was fair – we were the better team.
“Some moments are really decisive. Sometimes we were not playing so well, but you can see the effort of everyone on the pitch wanting to win.”
On whether he will speak to the board about signings in the next couple of days: “I am always speaking with them to try and improve the team.”
On his statements in the media recently: “I am really emotional, and in the last few months you can see why. I am like that, and you like that.”
Man Utd’s Bryan Mbuemo, speaking to Premier League Productions: “It’s a big club, the expectations are high and we need to deal with it. But a great feeling to win here.
“With what happened in the week, we had to react with a win. That’s what we’ve done.”
Mbuemo speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “Every game is hard and important. We had the game with us in the first half, but we had to fight every minute.
“I’m very happy, and we win as well – as a striker, it is important to be confident with goals.”
On getting the win for Ruben Amorim: “We are all a team, it is not only one person. We all worked very hard for the win today.”
“We know we are in a difficult moment”
Bryan Mbeumo reflects on Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Burnley 🔴 pic.twitter.com/PUbPAF5JbN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 30, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted as Scott Parker rants about VAR after Burnley lose to late Bruno Fernandes penalty at Man Utd…
@rushworth_peter: If it takes 4 minutes for a referee to make a decision it’s not clear and obvious, then it ain’t a penalty. Utter joke
@DavidPritty: Scott Parker is absolutely spot on. Which is why the Championship is a better league. #FUCKVAR
@Greggy73: The most frank and accurate opinion about the state of football in this day and age… Well said Scotty…
@IanParfitt: I follow two levels of football and thankfully neither has VAR. Scott Parker is bang on with the word ‘sterile’, VAR has completely destroyed football at the top level. Fans can’t even fully celebrate a goal as soon as the ball hits the net because they know VAR will scrutinise.
@KevinH1505: He’s bang on. Feels like a different sport from last season. VAR is the worst thing they have ever introduced to the game. It’s Soulless!
@chrisburnley35: Exactly this. Var is a fucking joke. Even if it goes for us. Had enough of it now. And only 3 games in
@philknox: This is my big beef with VAR. I’ve never been less in love with football. We don’t celebrate like we did. Football wasn’t broken and somehow we’ve made it worse. 😢😢😢
@LukeSnowdon27: Burnley were in the prem when var was introduced, and since then we’ve had two separate seasons in the championship without var. both of those season the feeling of celebrating a goal as it goes in is something else … time to get rid, the refs can’t get it right #twitterclarets
@ChrisDelaney86: I’ve been saying this for years now @FA_PGMOL are ruing the game- it has gone too far – the fans done want it. @premierleague need to stop this wonder it’s too late- listen to the fans. The game is becoming sterile
@GarryLloyd1: It already is. You are scared to celebrate any goal. Worried that the dinner lady caused a goal to be ruled out. It’s wrong on so many levels. Stop it now.
@wardymu7: Refs speaking to the crowd, ref cam, Var checks, the monitor, half time interviews, the sheer inconsistencies in everything, the constant changing of rules and all the other tripe that goes with football nowadays is making the game we love pure piss 💩
@mrsflanagan28: Complete sense spoken by Scott Parker. Games gone. The clear and obvious rule is anything but 🫠 #twitterclarets
