Alan Hansen and Peter Schmeichel expressed concerns over VAR 15 years before it was implemented in the Premier League.
Match of the Day stalwart Hansen and former Manchester United goalkeeper Schmeichel discussed video technology after one of the biggest refereeing howlers in Premier League history. Roy Carroll had spilled Pedro Mendes' long-range shot over the line, though the goal was not given.
Instant replays proved Tottenham's 'goal' should have counted with Manchester United escaping with a crucial goalless draw. Though the incident showed how technology would have helped.
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Carroll's blunder was way back in 2005, but Hansen and Schmeichel were ahead of the curve. VAR was introduced into the Premier League 14 years later but the pundits' concerns have been proven spot on.
Speaking on Match of the Day after Mendes was denied a goal, Schmeichel said: "It's ironic on a day where Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson are in the papers asking for more video technology being enforced into football that this is happening."
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And Hansen - never one to shy away from giving his opinion - was seemingly always against technology being introduced. The Liverpool legend said: "Let me tell you, if they introduce this and it works, everybody will clamour for 'offside, is it offside?'. You bring it into grey areas, then you'll have carnage."
To which Schmeichel added: "Are you going to stop the game and go back to the video and have a look? 'Was that a penalty? Was that not?'."
The duo's concerns have been proven right with seemingly more and more refereeing mistakes every week in the Premier League despite the use of technology.
Though PGMOL referees' chief Howard Webb insists VAR is here to stay, saying last month: "It would be foolish to take away a tool that can remove clear errors from the game – almost 40 this season.
"Usually we have seen around 100 situations rectified through the use of VAR. Why would you want to take that away and leave those errors in the game?"
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