Former referees’ chief Keith Hackett brands offside and handball laws ‘abject nonsense’

VAR was in the headlines again at the weekend (Carl Recine/PA)

Former referees’ chief Keith Hackett believes the offside and handball laws require “major surgery” and slow-motion VAR replays should be banned to avoid more baffling decisions.

A string of incidents over the weekend started with Leeds striker Patrick Bamford having a goal ruled out for offside for pointing where he wanted the ball played and ended with contentious handball awards against Wolves and Liverpool.