Premier League Issues Statement on VAR Disruption During Manchester United vs Ipswich Game

Manchester United and Ipswich Town had an unusual challenge during their Premier League clash on Sunday when VAR was temporarily unavailable due to a fire alarm at Stockley Park, the hub where VAR decisions are made. This forced the match officials to rely on traditional refereeing for part of the game, bringing a rare “old-school” touch to modern football.

Referee Anthony Taylor paused the game to explain the situation to the captains, Bruno Fernandes and Sam Morsy. The fire alarm at Stockley Park meant VAR officials had to leave their workstations for safety reasons. Until the alarm was resolved, no video replays were available to assist the referee.

Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury noted the moment during the broadcast, saying: “It’s all on the referee and his assistants now until further notice.”

The Premier League later posted a message on their social media to clarify the disruption, stating: “The match will be operating without VAR until further notice due to a fire alarm at the VAR Hub at Stockley Park.” Fortunately, VAR was back in action just before halftime.

The game itself was lively, with Manchester United starting strong. Marcus Rashford scored in the second minute, giving United an early lead. However, Ipswich didn’t back down. Just before halftime, Omari Hutchinson equalized with a stunning long-range strike, making it 1-1.

The absence of VAR during this period brought a different energy to the match. Some fans welcomed the break from technology, while others worried about possible missed calls.

This unexpected situation reminded everyone of football before VAR existed. Some fans enjoyed seeing the referees make decisions without video assistance, but the incident also highlighted how much football now depends on technology for fairness and accuracy.

With VAR restored for the second half, the match continued without further interruptions, keeping fans on edge as both teams fought hard for control.