Legendary referee left speechless over ‘bizarre’ Sheffield Wednesday big screen fiasco – explains rules

Ex-Premier League official Keith Hackett, who counts matches in the European Championship, the Olympics and an FA Cup final among his career highlights, was astounded to hear accusations that officials had referred to the big screen replay in adjudging Lee Gregory to have been offside for what would have been George Byers’ match-sealing fifth goal of the season.

Owls boss Darren Moore and vice-captain Liam Palmer told the media post-match that it was their understanding that had been the case, with Moore admitting he was satisfied with the outcome of the decision that Gregory had been interfering with play in – if not necessarily the method in which it was reached.

Speaking to The Star, Hackett made crystal clear the regulations do not allow any reference to the screen.

“Absolutely not,” Hackett said. “The terms of the competition are quite clear, there’s no VAR operating at Championship, League One or League Two level and that would be akin to using VAR. It is a complete and utter no-no.

“They have to make any decision or judgement at the time. The law on offside is not an easy one, especially when it comes to aspects of interfering with play.

“In awarding the goal initially, the referee has clearly determined that there is no offside in his own mind.

“To refer to the big screen – if indeed that is what has happened – is a major and complete no-no. It’s bizarre.”

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Hackett suggested that given the magnitude of the clash between Wednesday and Plymouth, the match should perhaps have been awarded to a Premier League-listed referee – though John Busby does operate mainly in the Championship and has taken 12 of his 19 league matches this season in the second tier.

Wednesday have been showing replays on the big screen at Hillsborough – situated between the South Stand and the Leppings Lane End of the ground – all season.

In five decades of work as a top-level official and administrator, Hackett says he has never seen or heard of any incident such as this in all his years.

Wednesday were able to see out the game and went top of the table, leapfrogging their opponents in the process.

“In cases where you might have a dismissal or a controversial incident, the club as per regulations are not allowed to replay any footage in the ground,” Heckett confirmed.

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“Here it appears we have a situation where a goal has been scored and awarded at least initially. It is perfectly legitimate for the club to replay that as they will have done dozens of times.

“The officials have no right to refer to that big screen in the process of changing their decision. It is completely out of the question.

“If this is proven to be the case, I would expect the officials will receive some advice fairly quickly from the PGMOL.

“It’s bizarre and it’s certainly not within the laws of the game.”