SAINTS boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has cautioned Premier League fans not to expect too much from VAR – and insists on-field referees must still make all the major decisions for the system to work.

Video technology will be introduced to the English top flight from the start of next season with the aim of eradicating refereeing errors.

It has been trialled this year during various cup competitions and repeatedly run into issues and controversies, the likes of which it is meant to prevent.

VAR was brought into the German Bundesliga at the start of the 2017/18 season, with Hasenhuttl managing RB Leipzig during the first year.

It has given the Saints manager a clear understanding of the system and his insight gives English fans a taste of what to expect.

He said: “I don’t expect too much justice off of VAR.

“I have experience from one year of Bundesliga and it was the first year and there were a lot of problems.

“It is still a human decision that is taken and still one level higher.

“Everyone should always know what it is about, what they are discussing and what they want to look at once again and it’s important the decision is taken in the stadium and not 300 miles away.

“The people in the stadium want to see something that is decided in the stadium. It is important the referee is looking at the situation. He knows the atmosphere, what it is about, if a big mistake or not and then decide whether to change it or not.

“VAR has a lot of challenges to stand. It is easier about offside or not and you can take the line and it is not always possible for a linesman to see.

“For example, a foul or hand in the box is always a decision that is taken by a referee and it will not be 100 per cent sure if it is right or wrong.”

Hasenhuttl’s major take away from his experience of VAR is that the on-field referee must retain total control over decision making.

Though various elements can be reviewed elsewhere, Hasenhuttl is adamant that the only way for VAR to really function is for the man in the middle to look at the footage when required and to make the final call.

“The last decision the referee has to take. That must be the crucial thing I think,” reckoned Hasenhuttl.

“He at first saw the scene and decided penalty or not for example and if he thinks it is a big mistake he can overturn it himself.

“That is the most important thing and that everybody knows what it is about and that it doesn’t take too much time. 30 seconds or one minute is ok but longer than that the crowd will get angry and it kills the atmosphere in the stadium.”