Dean Holden and his Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic both see video assistant referees (VAR) becoming a regular feature in the Championship, but neither can see the logic in having it only for the play-off final.

This weekend sees the start of the 2026 semi-finals, with Hull hosting Millwall on Friday before Southampton visit Middlesbrough on Saturday. The second legs kick off next week.

But none of those four games will see referees assisted by officials behind television screens, whereas they will be for the Wembley final on May 23.

It is the way it has been since 2022, when Paul Tierney overlooked strong cases for two Huddersfield Town penalties against Nottingham Forest, but makes no sense to the Tigers coaches.

CHECKPOINT: The video assistant referee system was used in last season's Championship play-off final between Sheffield United and Sunderland (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

placeholder image — CHECKPOINT: The video assistant referee system was used in last season's Championship play-off final between Sheffield United and Sunderland (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

"I think more and more VAR is going to be needed in the Championship, just because of what's at stake," says Holden, assistant to Jakirovic.

"If you're a stakeholder at a football club and the finance is involved for promotion and relegation, us on the inside of it and certainly supporters, I think it's going to be needed because there's too many big calls that are not quite probably going the right way.

"I think it's going to be needed but VAR in itself needs tidying up as well so it's probably a bigger discussion."

But to play 48 games without, then one match with, makes little sense to him.

VAR ADVOCATE: Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

"It's difficult to bring it in for one game," argues Holden. "I'm not really a big fan of that.

"The game is refereed differently when VAR is involved. Referee's assistants will officiate the game differently because of VAR.

"So to bring it in for one game in the most pressured game in the season when you don't have it all season, I don't agree with that, personally."

Jakirovic, who has been banned from the touchline twice this season for expressing his frustration with officialdom, is a strong advocate of the technology.

"In my opinion, we need VAR in this league," he says.

"But why did they put the final game in the play-offs as VAR?

"I have just this question, somebody answer me, please: Why is this game so important and the other games not important?"