FORMER refs’ chief Keith Hackett has called for blunder whistler Michael Oliver to be axed and claims English officials “are the laughing stock in Europe.”
Hackett also wants a maximum 120-second VAR review introduced following the astonishing 8min 11sec farce to rule out a Milos Kerkez ‘goal’ for offside in Bournemouth’s FA Cup shootout win over Wolves.
Oliver was slammed by Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish for failing to award even a free-kick after Millwall keeper Liam Roberts’ flying kung fu kick to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s head put the Eagles striker in hospital.
It needed VAR Nick Hopton’s intervention in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round clash before Oliver was persuaded to issue Roberts a red card.
And it came on the same day the new Semi-Automated Offside Technology failed at the Vitality Stadium - on the very first weekend of it being used in competitive matches.
It prompted ex-PGMOL boss Hackett to launch a blistering attack on his successor Howard Webb, posting: “We are the laughing stock in Europe and the decline continues.
“I wonder if the PGMOL are capable of delivering top-class officiating.
“A challenge that put a player in hospital not recognised by the referee; EIGHT minutes to make an offside call? Time for the players to have afternoon tea! How is that helping?”
Angry Parish accused Roberts of endangering Mateta’s life with the “most reckless challenge I’ve ever seen.”
Mateta needed 25 stitches in a “serious” gashed ear and also underwent head scans before being released from hospital.
And Parish fumed: “It was a dreadful challenge, but why the ref needed to go to the screen I have no idea.”
Oliver, 40, was also widely criticised over his Molineux cock-up in January when he wrongly issued a straight red card to Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly for a trip - overturned on appeal.
Hackett insisted Oliver “needs rest. At least a couple of weeks off.
“That was terrible officiating. The referee went missing. The red card should have been issued without hesitation.”
Bournemouth and Wolves fans chanted: “F*** VAR,” and “it’s not football any more,” during the Vitality farce.
And Hackett posted on X: “This should be a game-changing moment.
“Why didn’t the Premier League/PGMOL purchase an SAOS system that is tried and tested.
“Why decide to use at this stage of the FA Cup?
“We now need to put a time clock on the process. Two minutes max - then revert to the on-field decision.”
Hackett, 80, also claims if refs wait for a VAR input before making decisions, “then we might as well use Tarot cards or bingo balls.”
Sheffield-born Hackett previously accused the £26million PGMOL of “being run by a bunch of amateurs who operate like a Mayfair Gentlemen’s Club.”
He added: “VAR is not working, so bin it.”
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