The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has always been tinged with controversy. Ironically, the underlying purpose of the system was to prevent controversy. It has ceased to achieve that aim and caused more drama than before.
The idea in principle is a good one. Referees are often under fire if a bad decision is made and it is easy to sympathise because they get their share of abuse from players, managers and fans.
VAR was brought in to protect and help referees do their job. In an ideal world it should make their job easier. But has VAR led to the abuse of a system where referees are too heavily reliant on it? Are the positives in the decision making masked by the inconsistencies?
Off to a promising start
The Confederations Cup was the first major tournament that the system was introduced and many people were enthusiastic but did not expect much in its first run out.
The result of the implementation had mixed reviews with some decisions being made correctly but others, to put it lightly, debatable. But overall it was a good start. Some suggest decisions in which it is a matter of opinion – such as a force of a tackle – should not be left to VAR to decide but rather simplified to decisions like offsides or the ball running out of play.
When it was announced that the 2018 World Cup was going to include the use of VAR, many people backed the idea. The chance of decision-making being more precise and accurate led to many fans thinking the game would be fairer and therefore more satisfied with the decisions being made.
It was hailed as a success, perhaps blinded by the excitement of this new technology which was to change football. It was seen by many leagues as a test before potentially implementing it into the domestic leagues.
The positives
VAR does have its positives, the rate of a successful decision has risen from 84% to 95% since its introduction in the Premier League.
The areas in which players are fouled is more accurately distinguished, especially around the 18-yard penalty box. Fouls off the ball and handballs seem to be seen a lot more. One area that it has been a great success is with penalties, player encroachment and goalkeepers coming off their line.
Although there are positives with VAR, there are many things which are seen to be a problem with the way it is run and how it affects certain aspects of the game. A misconception of VAR is that it seems to be time consuming. Many people argue that the officials take too long to make the decision. When, in fact, according to ESPN, the average stopping time for an incident is 84 seconds.
Problems arising
The system was introduced to correct ‘clear and obvious’ errors made by referees and to prevent human error. But the team of VAR officials who look at these decisions and draw the offside lines are people too and so this process is still subjective. This, therefore, results in an incompatible system. Here’s what ex-professional footballer Danny Higginbotham had to say on VAR:
Although VAR does succeed in overturning decisions that have a ‘major impact’ on the game, it does not succeed in making a distinction between what is a clear and obvious mistake by the referee.
Another big problem we see is the inconsistencies seen from game to game. In one game, VAR has checked and highlighted an apparent ‘clear and obvious’ error, but then in another a similar situation might not result in the same decision. This is down to the opinion of the officials who review the situation. Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson spoke about giving away a penalty in a similar way to challenges made on Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Adama Traore which were not given. This is clearly due to the inconsistent subjectivity of the decision-making officials.
With the new offside rule, encouraging side-line officials to not raise their flag if they think there is an offside call. A hugely controversial law in which seems to have taken away the power of the pitch side referees and given it to the VAR officials. If VAR is going to check every offside call leading to a goal then that surely takes away from the trust of the referee. Leeds’s striker Patrick Bamford was given offside by VAR officials because he was pointing at where he wanted the ball whilst making a run. It seems rather unjust to award an offside in this scenario, as the way in which is body is positioned when he points allows his armpit to be offside. It seems rather harsh that a decision of such technicality like that will be given. Whilst, writing this article another controversial offside decision was made during the Aston Villa against West Ham game, this time with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins’ elbow appeared to be offside.
ESPN journalist Dale Johnson, who does his weekly ‘Monday VAR Thread’ on Twitter, suggests that the decision on offsides are objective, therefore are ‘never going to be judged as clear and obvious’:
Johnson has conceded that the offside calls cannot be 100% accurate. Although this policy is set and stone, many followers of football are questioning the validity of such decisions because there can be such close contentious calls being made.
The Eredivisie has had similar problems to the Premier League. However, to combat this controversy, there is a stipulation: if the two lines on the Hawk-eye technology touch there is a 10cm margin of error in which the referee has the final say. This was the league’s decision to implement this without the IFAB or FIFA’s permission. Perhaps this is the refinement the Premier League needs.
The Athletic published an article recently about what actually goes on when the referee is told to go over to the pitch side monitor.
It is revealed that the referee already knows the outcome of the decision before they have even looked at the incident due to the decision made by the VAR officials. However, the referee is still required to go and take a look at the monitor so that they can keep the misconception that the referees on the pitch has the power.
Does this lead to undermining officials? Creating a loss of confidence? Perhaps leading to overuse of system? Ex-Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher and Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville were discussing the current state of VAR on Monday Night Football. Carragher expresses how the use of the system has highlighted the referees in a negative fashion and led to the overuse of the scheme. Neville suggested that the power is being taken away from the officials. FIFA themselves introduced VAR with the aim to have ‘minimal interference, maximum benefit’. However, it seems after watching the Premier League this season, this is clearly not the case. The offside rule and the inconsistencies in decision making being a prime example.
Apart from all those associated with VAR, no one actually knows what is going on. No one knows what to expect from decisions being made. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez tweeted: “I still don’t understand the VAR rules” after the Ollie Watkins incident.
As a result of the recent uproar and hostility, players and fans alike are using ‘#footballisgone’ across the platform. This confusion from those involved is causing a growing frustration and many think the system is ruining the game.
Many ex-pundits as well as fans have suggested that the excitement and emotion is fading out of the game. All those in attendance during the games, whether it be the players and coaches in the stadium or the viewers at home, do not know whether to celebrate a goal.
The thrill of scoring a last-minute winner is always contested with the threat of VAR overturning the goal. Football is supposed to give out spontaneous, lasting emotions. However, all the excitement is lost when waiting to see if a decision will stand.
Looking to the future
The current climate with such confusion and contention about decisions being made is frustrating for all those involved. It is turning out to have such a negative impact .
We are starting to see more players come out and speak against the implementation. Speaking to the BBC after a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, Liverpool club captain Jordan Henderson stated that he would like to see VAR scrapped. Can they change this during a season? What about the points already lost in previous matches to the refinements which could be made?
It is highly unrealistic that the Premier League will scrap the use of VAR as it is used in European Competitions that they participate in. It is unrealistic to think they will play without it in a league match and then in European matches have it. It is also highly unlikely they will make changes during the campaign.
But where does that leave VAR in the future? It is a simple case of refinement. It has the potential to be a great asset to the referees and the game. Refinements seen in Germany, Italy and Spain to the system have led to a more widely accepted response both on and off the pitch.
The controversial penalty rule has recently announced that it would change in the next campaign. It is an example of an implementation brought in which unfortunately has not worked, but the decision making body have said they will refine it. That is what the IFAB need to do. If VAR is refined to prevent these inconsistencies throughout different games and a more sustainable view of what is a ‘clear and obvious mistake’ by the referees, then the system will be a great success.
With the rescheduled European Championships coming up in 2021, this will be a great opportunity to make some refinements to the system. Otherwise we will most likely see the same implementation as Nations League matches.
Government bodies will have to seriously look at the future of VAR and how it needs to change to bring the love back to football. It is clear that the VAR system is flawed and if these inconsistencies continue to happen the future of VAR hangs in the balance.
