Bayern Munich midfielder and Spain international Thiago Alcantara has blasted the use of VAR in football: “I am totally against it.”
The former Barcelona player insisted that the video technology system meant that the game ‘had lost part of its essence’ and ‘something very important’.
“I am totally against the VAR,” Thiago told reporters, as cited by Diario AS.
“I am a football romantic and I like that little bit of mischief, without it we would not have the mythical moments that have existed throughout football.
“I think it is an implementation that gives a little more justice to the game, but crucially it takes away the essence of the game.
“The first time you're going to celebrate, you're a bit self-conscious because the first thing you look at is if the referee has given the goal or if he has his hand on his ear.
“Football has lost something very important.”
Thiago joined Bayern from the Catalan giants in the summer of 2013 and is still a key part of the Spanish national team squads.
