Joey Barton enters VAR debate with Newcastle United and Aston Villa fans while landing jibe at Man Utd legend

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton debated with Newcastle United and Aston Villa supporters, as well as landing a jibe at Manchester United legend Gary Neville, as he shared his VAR thoughts online.

The Gas boss took to X on Monday morning to engage in the conversation that has got the whole footballing world talking this week following controversy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The latest VAR howler came in the Premier League at the weekend as Liverpool saw a vital Luis Diaz goal overturned without lines for offside being drawn - PGMOL admitted a 'significant human error' in the process.

Football lovers online have been throwing all sorts of ideas and solutions out to ponder how the refereeing system can be improved and, even though VAR is not operational in League One, Barton added his thoughts.

The Bristol Rovers manager said: "I would like ex-Pro’s to be on these VAR panels. We are allowing people who have never played competitive football to make huge calls under pressure. They don’t fully understand the game, as evidenced by the current state our game is in. People who’ve played the game at an elite level, understand it as well as anyone."

Football fans from across the country replied to Barton's message. One Newcastle United supporter pointed out that it wouldn't even take an ex-pro to stop obvious error while an Aston Villa follower questioned the bias of former players.

Barton replied: "It wouldn’t be an ex-pro in complete control, just make them part of the decision-making team in Stockley Park. I still don’t understand how it’s not done like Rugby U or League. Ref mic’d up and stadium screen has full visibility of decision."

The former Manchester City also found a way to land a cheeky jibe at Manchester United legend Gary Neville to reason why ex-pros could do the VAR job. He joked: "Not every player is as biased as Red Nev @GNev2."