Video assistant referee (VAR) has been the topic of conversation for much of the current Premier League season, with high profile clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal embroiled in controversy stemming from in-game decisions by match officials.
In October, Liverpool saw a goal wrongly called offside that prompted an admission of error from refereeing body PGMOL, and last weekend Arsenal felt Anthony Gordon's 64th-minute game-winner for Newcastle should have been called back due to a number of different reasons.
Both clubs released statements in the immediate aftermath of their respective matches, and with the implementation of VAR coming under fire recently, a former Premier League player believes that more teams should go public with their grievances if they feel it necessary.
Speaking to Paddy Power, former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna backed the clubs to become more outpsoken about VAR.
“We need more clubs to make statements like Arsenal and Liverpool did," Sagna said.
"They should have their say – they're the ones investing the money and why should they have VAR if everyone’s against it?
“If players are against VAR, why do they want to force it. It kills football, even if they allow the goal, the way players celebrate is different and football is not based on VAR.
"It has always been a sport where mistakes are part of the game. That’s football!"
Sagna has been forthright in his disdain for VAR — at least in its current form — and he explained that the usage of a video assistant referee to aid in making calls can sometimes take away from the spontaneity and passion of the sport.
“Whenever a goal goes in, you wait for four minutes and then VAR says it’s a goal – how can you celebrate that?" he said.
"Football is about emotions and one way or another, it destroys the emotion in football.
“We’re human beings and mistakes are a part of the game.”