Sergej Jakirovic has again called for the introduction of VAR in the Championship after expressing frustration with the officiating during Hull City’s 4-2 victory over Derby County at the MKM Stadium.
The Hull City boss, who has frequently raised concerns about refereeing standards this season, was unhappy with the performance of referee Adam Herczeg on Tuesday night. Derby manager John Eustace also appeared dissatisfied, as several decisions left both benches perplexed.
The match began controversially when Rams striker Patrick Agyemang was booked inside two minutes for a second challenge on John Egan. Later, Derby’s first equaliser stood despite what appeared to be a clear offside in the build-up, further fuelling frustrations. A number of other calls throughout the contest added to the sense of inconsistency, and tensions boiled over late on when Hull assistant Marko Salatovic was dismissed for celebrating. Jakirovic also felt striker Oli McBurnie did not receive adequate protection from the referee.
Speaking after the game, Jakirovic pointed to the offside decision as a turning point and questioned whether the magnitude of the fixture affected the official’s control of proceedings. He argued that a lack of consistency in key decisions — from physical challenges to handballs and shirt-pulling — is damaging in a division where so much is at stake.
The Croatian reiterated his belief that VAR is necessary in the Championship, insisting that many of his managerial colleagues share the same view. While acknowledging that mistakes are part of football, Jakirovic stressed that maintaining consistent standards is essential in a league of such high importance.
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