Wannabe PM Andy Burnham wants to ban VAR in football as it's 'killing spontaneity'

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, an Everton fan, reckons VAR should be shown a red card as it's 'not getting decisions right'. He criticised it while laying out his pitch to be PM

16:00, 17 May 2026Updated 16:05, 17 May 2026

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham outside his house in Warrington, Cheshire

Wannabe Labour prime minister Andy Burnham wants to ban Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football. He reckons the controversial tech review system should be shown a red card because its killing spontaneity [and] its not getting decisions right.

The mayor of Greater Manchester, who supports Everton, laid out his position on the despised tech as he made his pitch for the Labour leadership. He said: Gone. Get rid. Ill tell you why.

Its killing spontaneity in the ground. Im a season ticket holder at Everton. Killing spontaneity. He told ITV News: You cant celebrate a goal because you think someone somewhere in an industrial unit is going to rule it out.

[Burnham wants to replace Sir Keir Starmer]

Burnham wants to replace Sir Keir Starmer(Image: Getty Images)

So thats a bad thing. But number two, it doesnt get decisions right. You could put up with it if it then got decisions right, but it doesnt get the decisions right and its not consistent.

It comes after more VAR outrage on Sunday over Matheus Cunhas goal for Manchester United against Nottingham Forest. The referee overruled the VAR, who said the goal should be disallowed for handball, after a long delay at Old Trafford.

Referees body PGMO said there has been a reduction in the delay to games over the past couple of seasons. And the Premier League has the lowest VAR intervention rate in European football.

[Burnham has been open about his ambitions to lead the Labour Party]

Burnham hopes he'll win the by-election(Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Mr Burnhams allies reckon hell win the keys to power and replace Sir Keir Starmer in No10 because hes a Guinness politician - meaning hes not stout, but steady.

They insist hes got the best chance of winning a crunch by-election seat in Makerfield, Greater Manchester, which he needs for a potential leadership battle. Sources close to him reckon he has a unique appeal to both Green and Reform voters.

Reform sources claim theyre going to try to paint Mr Burnham, 56, as a posh boy, which the mayor will dispute. And Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy admits itll be a tough fight as the two-horse race will see Reform throw everything at winning the seat.

[Lisa Nandy]

Lisa Nandy(Image: Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)

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Nandy also described rival leadership hopeful Wes Streetings call for the UK to re-enter the EU as a bit odd, adding she doesnt understand the sudden focus on Europe. She insisted Sir Keir will still be PM when the summer holidays begin, despite what she calls feverish speculation about a leadership challenge.

But insiders claim the PM has told close pals he intends to quit and set a timetable for his exit as he realises the current chaos is unsustainable but wants to be able to do it in a dignified way. Elsewhere, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urged Labour to call a general election if the PM is replaced by someone who changes the Governments mandate.

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