“I’m not sure what we’ve resolved, really. I don’t like it, never have.”
The voice of England boss Gareth Southgate, unimpressed with VAR after Liverpool was denied a fair goal in their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham last September, In an environment consisting of clashing thoughts, opinions, and views, there seems to be an essence of harmony in the opinions of VAR – people “Don’t like it.”
In 2016, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved trials for using the video assistant referee.
“The initial testing will deliberately have a limited focus to minimise the impact of the flow and emotions which are crucial to football,” Said David Elleray, a former Premier League referee.
Fast forward to now, the consensus is the wish to rewind to pre-VAR, a simpler time.
Emotions are at a standstill. The video assistant referee questions every goal. The flow of football games is now drying up. We are losing football.
Video Assistant Referee
A video assistant referee was introduced to ensure CONSISTENCY. Who would have thought a VAR mishap would result in a court trial? I know what you are thinking – there is no way a VAR decision would result in a full replay ruled by a court order.
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Yes, it has gone this far. In Belgium, a VAR error has led to a replay of a complete game. After a 2-1 defeat to Anderlecht, Gent filed a complaint after an incorrect decision that went through the VAR ranks saw a penalty wrongfully given to Anderlecht, who subsequently went on to win the game.
After the controversial game against Tottenham, Jorgen Klopp said:
“I think the only outcome should be a replay.”
Klopp’s quote came from a perfectly legal goal from Liverpool Winger Luis Diaz being ruled offside by VAR.
Quite the mishap. What made this worse was the VAR official audio being released after.
The transcript in reference:
Referee: Well, done, boys, good process.
Replay operator: Wait, wait, wait, wait. The on-field decision was offside. Are you happy with this?
Assistant VAR: Yeah.
Replay operator: Are you happy with this?
Assistant VAR: Offside, goal, yeah. That’s wrong that, Daz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wG-5Zc6hww (Link to the full transcript)
The emotion of the beautiful game has turned ugly. Every goal you now second guess. There was a slight beauty in human error without VAR. The chance of every match, a decision going your way without the influence of VAR.
A new FIFA directive says “unnatural lost time” should be added at the end of each half.
We now see plenty of time being added on due to VAR. The rhythm of the game has been disrupted.
The right idea and the wrong execution, or don’t fix something that doesn’t need fixing.
VAR doesn’t seem to have worked, and it doesn’t seem like it will work soon.
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
VAR has to go