VARight? or VARediculous?

The topic of debate that has divided football fans up and down the country, are the video assistant referees (VAR) having a positive effect on the game we all love?

The other day I watched Chelsea versus Tottenham, where Giovani Lo Celso somehow escaped a red card for a challenge on Chelsea’s captain Cesar Azpilicueta. It was since released, by the head of public engagement at the Professional Game Match Officials Limited that a ‘human error’ was made in this decision. This prompted the question, what is the point of VAR if it is adding to ‘human error’?

Why VAR?

Video assistant referees (VAR) were never implemented to eliminate all errors, as this is simply impossible. However, it was intended to take correct decisions from 96% to 98%, which doesn’t seem a lot but over a season this is a significant amount of decisions, and has already been involved in nearly 6 incidents on average per game. The aim of VAR was achieved in initial testing by gaining an accuracy of 98.9%, so it had to be right to implement VAR into the premier, right? Additionally if you follow other sport such as rugby or cricket, you will have seen the positive impact the video assistants have made, so it was a matter of time that football implemented it; to aid in taking some of the decision-making pressure off the referees. But is this right for the game?

Why not VAR?

VAR was almost destined for failure, with only 50% of fans stating at the start of the season it would have a positive impact. This then quickly became 31% of fans four game weeks into the season. This cannot be put down to a dislike for the use of technology; you only have to look at the impact goal line technology has had. So why is VAR alienating fans so much? Put simply it is their experience, whether this is in the stadium or through TV. Firstly, according to the averages there are almost eight and a half minutes of additional stoppages per game, and 61% of fans agreeing this is taking too long. Secondly, 74% of fans feel there is not enough information provided through the decision-making process, where in rugby and cricket fans are taken along on the process. Finally, VAR is still making clear and obvious errors even after countless repeats of an incident, with 5 recorded so far this season.

With the majority of fans united on their dislike of VAR, and now the players speaking up against the use of VAR, most notably Southampton's Charlie Austin. Why are we even using the system that is quite obviously not consistently working? That's easy; when it does work it is brilliant. But currently in the Premier League, apparently the world's greatest league, we haven't quite worked out how to use it properly yet. Granted some of this is the current interpretation of the rules, but some as straightforward as ensuring that the on field officials have the last decision, as they do in rugby.

I think even if they get usage of the VAR right it will still divide opinions, but it looks set to stay in football, so I guess we better just get used to it. It would be great to hear what you all think about VAR, and see whether you think it should stay or go from the game.