'We don't referee differently with VAR'

Match officials do not referee matches any differently despite the "safety net" of video assistant referees, says retired Premier League official Darren Cann.

Cann, 56, retired this month after more than 1,000 games as an assistant referee, including a record 579 in the Premier League.

The VAR system was introduced in the Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season.

There is often a suggestion that referees do not make a decision on the pitch because they know VAR should make the right one.

"Not everybody likes VAR and I accept that view," Cann told BBC Sport.

"But from a match official's point of view, it is a really valuable tool.

"I would like to dispel a myth. People think we referee differently because there is VAR but nothing could be further from the truth.

"My mindset is to eradicate VAR from that 90 minutes by getting my decisions right. Our mindset is to make the right decision.

"If we do make a clear and obvious error, we do have the safety net of VAR."

Asked about the increased scrutiny and pressure around VAR decisions, Cann said it had actually made his job "more enjoyable".

Cann has also welcomed the introduction of semi-automated offside, which came into the Premier League on the weekend of his final game.

The technology uses artificial intelligence and special cameras to make the judgement of tight offside calls quicker and easier.

"In previous seasons it could take up to 50 seconds just to draw the lines before they came to a decision," said Cann.

"With semi-automated offside, the lines are automatically drawn at the point where the ball is kicked. That speeds up the checks.

"It won't affect the assistant referees on the pitch. They still make their calls. But it does speed up the checks."

Cann's biggest two games came in 2010 - the Champions League final and World Cup final.

"Before VAR, I got an offside wrong in a Premier League game that still haunts me to this day," said Cann.

"It was only half a yard and was one of those where a forward and defender cross over at high speed. I just got my timing wrong and flagged when I shouldn't have.

"I lost concentration. That is 20 years ago and it still hurts."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club podcast, Cann further outlined life as an assistant referee.

Cann has retired slightly early because of a knee injury. He said a contributing factor to needing keyhole surgery on both knees is the fact that he's "probably run 10,000 miles sideways in my career".

He said he realised at an early stage in his officiating career that he lacked the "man management" and "communication" skills needed to be an elite referee, but was more "analytical" and suited to the role of an assistant.

Cann says he has found it more difficult in recent seasons to keep up with "athlete" Premier League footballers and that the "speed of transitions" in the modern game, alongside a more complex offside law, makes the role "physically and mentally harder each season".

He also revealed that before a game, his preparation would involve watching the past 30 corners, attacking and defending, for both teams, as well as free-kicks.

This is "not to pre-judge", but to get a "clear idea of patterns of play, personnel and visualisation".

After a match, Cann would watch his own game back - once with commentary "to get a feel for the game" and again with just the isolated audio of the officials' conversations to "improve our communication".

Cann explained the hardest change with VAR was "the mindset", moving from "waiting for Match of the Day" to learn if a decision is correct, to "instantly" knowing a mistake has been made in front of a live crowd and millions watching at home.

"The way we've learned is that we're now a team of six officials, including the VAR, and all that matters is getting the decision correct," Cann said.

Cann said he is a huge England fan, rather than a supporter of any specific club.

His most memorable specific decision was during Brazil v Chile at the 2010 World Cup last-16 game which he says helped his refereeing team, including former referee and now PGMOL chief Howard Webb, get the final of Spain v Netherlands.

Cann says he correctly kept his flag down on a marginal offside which allowed Brazil to score in a game they won 3-0.

"I was elated," he said. "That was a time when there was real satisfaction on the pitch.

"It was the only time I cried during a football match. I knew it was such a crucial decision – it came a day after that Frank Lampard 'goal' that never was. We couldn't afford to make another mistake."