Wayne Rooney criticized FA Cup referees for over-relying on VAR during Aston Villa's fourth-round match against Newcastle, citing missed offside calls and inconsistent handball decisions. VAR errors included failing to award Newcastle a penalty for a missed shin-high tackle and incorrectly flagging a handball inside the box. Rooney compared the mistakes to historic goal-line blunders, calling them 'one of the worst decisions he'd seen.' Referee Chris Kavanagh and his team face potential demotion after admitting errors, including a penalty oversight against Liverpool. Former official Graham Scott defended referees, arguing VAR isn't a crutch, while Newcastle boss Eddie Howe suggested the technology stifles instinctive decision-making.