Keep it, reform it, or remove it? We are nearing a crossroads for VAR and there is a huge debate going on about how we move forward.
Chris Kavanagh and his team’s disastrous officiating in Newcastle’s 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round win at Aston Villa was a perfect illustration of why it is so divisive.
Had VAR not been used, the litany of “obvious mistakes” by the Villa Park refereeing team would normally have been seen as an argument in favor of the technology. And this was not the only game where the referee was criticized.
However, the conclusion that this is evidence that the downsides of VAR outweigh the benefits is not yet widespread.
Big mistake at Villa Park:
Tammy Abraham was offside before Villa’s opener, Lucas Digne was given a free-kick after clearly handling the ball in the box, Villa’s left-back avoided a red card for a reckless foul on Jacob Murphy, and Dan Byrne was offside for Newcastle’s equaliser, scored by Sandro Tonali.
Former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood told Sky Sports FC that VAR is “here to stay” and believes the existing system needs to be improved rather than aiming for radical reform.
“It’s been a great weekend for the people making the decisions around VAR to be able to say ‘I told you so’ because of a clear mistake like this.
“I feel like the referees are getting a bit lazy. They almost forget that there are no second chances in the FA Cup. Some of the calls were just mind-blowing.”
Lucas Digne avoids red card and penalty in Aston Villa vs. Newcastle
On the other side of the debate, fans at Villa Park were able to enjoy a thrilling match uninterrupted by lengthy reviews, and supporters did not have to wait for a potential check to temper their goal celebrations.
Many, including UEFA’s head of referees, Roberto Rossetti, believe VAR has become too microscopic and is at risk of overreach. “We love soccer as it is,” Rosetti said last week. Many feel this is a fight to preserve the essence of football.
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‘There would have been a lot of mistakes without VAR’ – Eddie Howe frustrated with refereeing in Newcastle’s win over Villa
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he was “torn apart” by the VAR debate and suggested after Saturday’s win that officials were over-reliant on the technology.
Howe said: “When you have VAR, you tend to think, ‘VAR is checking, so I won’t give it.’ Then your decision-making is less sharp than normal. Maybe there’s a difference there.”
“I always worry about VAR because I love the raw emotion when you score a goal, you can’t see the flag, you can’t hear the whistle, you know the goal is confirmed and no one can take it away.
“But on the other hand, I wish we had had VAR for the goal they scored against us, and probably for the whole game.”
VAR appeal underway for Newcastle vs Arsenal
VAR errors increased in the first half of the Premier League season, with the Major Match Incidents Committee finding 13 errors, three more than at that stage last season, but referees’ overall accuracy has improved since the technology was introduced six years ago.
“The understanding that we need VAR today makes sense. We need to help the referees,” Villa coach Unai Emery said after Saturday’s defeat.
The bottom line with VAR seems to be: You can’t live with VAR, you can’t live without VAR. So what needs to change?
Alternatives, such as those present in cricket, are gaining traction because they could allow referees to stop relying on VAR and limit the number of stoppages during matches.
However, former Premier League official Mark Halsey believes the problem lies with referee Howard Webb and insists he should be replaced.
“Webb served in this role for three years, but it wasn’t enough,” Halsey told The Sun. “Everyone has a lifespan and it’s time to move on.
“This is no different than when Reuben Amorim and Thomas Frank were sacked for poor performance. The standard of refereeing has declined and it has only gotten worse.”
Somehow, what was supposed to be a great promotional weekend for VAR has intensified the debate. With the Premier League restarting this week, technology will once again be in the spotlight.
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