Wayne Rooney: VAR made wrong call on Crystal Palace's controversial goal against Nottingham Forest

Wayne Rooney has criticised VAR for awarding Crystal Palace their second goal in a 3-1 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park. Speaking on Match of the Day, the former England striker delivered a blunt verdict on the technology.

  • Competition: Premier League
  • Result: Crystal Palace 3-1 Nottingham Forest
  • Key incident: VAR allowed Crystal Palace's second goal, which put them ahead
  • Pundit verdict: Wayne Rooney said VAR made the wrong decision
  • Where: Selhurst Park, London
  • Programme: Match of the Day, BBC

What was said

"Call it a day with VAR"

— Wayne Rooney, speaking on Match of the Day, on the decision to award Crystal Palace's second goal

VAR made the wrong decision in awarding Crystal Palace their second goal.

— Wayne Rooney, Match of the Day

Rooney's criticism centres on the process, not just the outcome. The former Everton and Manchester United forward believes the VAR intervention that allowed the goal was flawed, and his "call it a day" line reflects a wider frustration with how the system is being applied in the Premier League.

The goal mattered. It gave Crystal Palace the lead before they went on to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 at Selhurst Park. Had the decision gone the other way, the match could have taken a different shape.

The numbers

  • Crystal Palace 3 — final score
  • Nottingham Forest 1 — final score
  • 2nd goal — the controversial Palace strike that put them ahead
  • 3 — the margin of Palace's victory

Why Rooney's VAR intervention claim carries weight

Wayne Rooney is not arguing about the final result. He is arguing about the moment the game turned. Palace's second goal, awarded after VAR review, put the home side in front, and from there they controlled the scoreline.

For Forest, the damage was done in that passage. They had to chase the game and conceded again. The scoreline reads 3-1, but the pivotal event was the decision Rooney highlighted.

Rooney's phrase "call it a day" is notable. It is not a demand for a specific rule change; it is a suggestion that the current system is not delivering the clarity it promised. When a pundit of his profile says that on Match of the Day, it feeds into the broader debate about VAR's role in the Premier League.

Talking points

  • Was Rooney right to say VAR made the wrong decision, or is he scapegoating the technology for a correct call?
  • If the second goal had been disallowed, would Nottingham Forest have taken anything from Selhurst Park?
  • Does "call it a day" reflect a genuine majority view among Premier League fans, or is it pundit hyperbole?
  • Should Match of the Day pundits be more careful when calling for the removal of a system that officials rely on?

What happens next

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest both return to Premier League action in their next fixtures, but the VAR debate will follow the officials involved. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) will review the incident as part of its standard post-match process, and Rooney's comments will add to the scrutiny on the decision.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score in Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest?

Crystal Palace beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 in the Premier League.

What did Wayne Rooney say about VAR?

Rooney said VAR made the wrong decision in awarding Crystal Palace's second goal and added: "Call it a day with VAR."

Where did Rooney make the comments?

He was speaking on Match of the Day, the BBC's Premier League highlights programme.

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