Michael Oliver and his video assistant referee were particularly busy during Monday night’s match between Spurs and Chelsea. Photo: Reuters/Matthew Childs
Football There needs to be an honest and frank conversation about video assistant refereeing: it’s ruining too many games. The direction technology is taking us has veered off course and it is no longer the sport we enjoy and love so much.
Too many matches are being abandoned due to the constant use of Var. Too many post-match interviews are about Ware. Too many experts (myself included) dedicate their analysis to Var’s decisions rather than focusing on outstanding moments of skill or smart tactics.
Referee decisions have always been a source of controversy, but we talk about referees more than ever because we expect perfection, whereas in football there will always be subjective decisions about fouls and red cards.
I was a Ware supporter when this idea was proposed. I want to see the game evolve for the greater good, and with so much at stake, anything that helps make more good decisions is a positive step. Now I ask: have we really lost more than we gained? I’m afraid the answer is yes.
Forget getting rid of Var. There’s too much put into it to throw it all away. FIFA loves it and is determined to make it work. The issue is not technology. That’s how it’s being used — and I’m glad to hear that Ifab has started talks about how Var can be fixed.
We shouldn’t become «anti-tech» because of Var’s problems. For example, no one will say a bad word about goal line detection technology. This was a fantastic innovation. Now we can clearly see whether the ball has crossed the line. It’s black and white, and waiting for the referee’s signal only adds to the drama. The entire process occurs quickly and seamlessly.
The goal of those using Var is to significantly reduce the level of interference in other key areas; Offsides, penalties and red cards.
If used correctly, Var can work. The automated offside system used by UEFA is far superior to that used in the Premier League. English football must take this into account immediately.
I understand the frustration of fans having to wait to celebrate goals, but the positives outweigh the negatives because offside is also black and white. If a player was offside by three yards in a very important match and the goal was awarded, there would be an uproar.
But goal technology and offside is where we should be, so to speak , draw a line.
For me the biggest issue that needs to be addressed going forward is how Var deals with fines and red cards. Officials watching on TV are too busy intervening where there is no compulsion to do so.
In particular, there is an urgent need to rethink the issue of reducing the number of deletions.
Previously, a red card was an event in itself. I was at the 1985 FA Cup final when Kevin Moran became the first to be sent off after a professional foul on Peter Reid. The threshold was so high that it was rare.
It is now even more surprising if a high-profile match ends with 22 players on the field.
The introduction of Ware and recent measures to limit time wasting have contributed to the increase number of cards shown.
There were 30 red cards in the Premier League last season. Eleven games have passed and there have already been 25. Has the game become more undisciplined? No. Using Var here has a negative impact. As neutrals, we don’t want unjustifiably uneven competition.
We must recognize that football is not like other sports, and the speed and pace of the game in the stadium seems very different than on television.
This is the most outrageous consequence of red cards and penalties — especially handballs — which are determined by Var a few seconds after the event.
Take a look at Marcus Rashford’s sending off in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The referee was in the perfect position five yards away, with the perfect angle to make the decision in real time. Slow motion and still images are not an accurate indicator of what is happening at full speed. Football is not played in slow motion.
Marcus Rashford’s red card after a Var review on Wednesday night was another high-profile sending off. Photo: Anadolu Agency/Sergey Gapon
Thursday night’s handball against Alexis McAllister in Toulouse’s win over Liverpool was equally controversial. This was another example of unnecessary interference from Ware, as the referee had a clear view of what was happening in real time and could judge for himself whether it actually led directly to a goal.
Premier League referee Howard Webb said earlier this season that he did not want officials to intervene unless absolutely necessary. This was a welcome step. Unfortunately, this policy is not well enforced.
The feeling that the interference has taken root. Officials are so afraid of criticism for making poor decisions that they want to intervene, believing that too many tackles are within the scope of red cards.
To cut it down, there must be stronger orders from above. Please give on-field umpires more control and responsibility. No referee is better qualified to judge an incident than the one on the field.
The League Managers Association wants Ware to be part of a «team» with umpires and assistants. This is a good idea for building working relationships and ensuring consistency.
Also, some officials are better suited to Var than others. If you’ve been trained as an on-field referee, it’s not natural for you to sit in a room and watch slow-motion replays.
Involving more dedicated referees in the future can only help.
Involving more dedicated vars can only help in the future.
Each footballer must also contribute to making the profession more attractive. They need to suppress the incessant criticism, another negative consequence of the Var system.
Who would want to be a judge in the current environment? Too many managers hide behind refereeing mistakes.
We can’t turn back time now. Var is here to stay. But we can still ensure that technology “assists” referees on the field, rather than overriding or subverting the rules. When it comes to subjective incidents, much more respect and respect should be given to the original decision on the field.
If we continue on our current course, technology will continue to ruin the game rather than improve it. Someone in government must quickly find a solution, otherwise football could be renamed Warball.
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