Could soccer benefit in the absence of the VAR technology?
Premier League supporters, managers, and footballers received a glimpse of what life was like devoid of VAR during the Football Association Cup fourth-round stage – and it is fair to say this weekend was not without its controversies.
In the current campaign and the previous FA Cup tournament, VAR has not been brought in until the later stages, with numerous supporters welcoming a reversion to football without stoppages from technology.
After a season riddled with debate, protracted rulings, and confusion sparked by VAR, its continued use has been questioned repeatedly, with a vocal contingent arguing the game would be more enjoyable if it were scrapped.
Indeed, after a day full of extensive stoppages, mixed messages, and irate managers in the start of the month, a former Premier League midfielder stated: "For the good of the game, you'd remove VAR."
"The issue is what it is doing to the games, to the spectacle, with the amount of time it takes to get there."
"Do you want more right decisions or do you want a more free-flowing football experience that is genuine and spontaneous?"
Following a couple of goals from offside positions being allowed, a clear penalty not being awarded plus various other controversial decisions, the weekend certainly thrust the topic back into the public eye.
'Improved Entertainment' or 'Greater Accuracy'?
The arguments against VAR are familiar the criticisms of VAR.
Rulings being excessively delayed, celebrations being paused while deliberations take place, confusion as goals are given – or ruled out – for marginal reasons, denying referees the opportunity to use their own common sense.
But Newcastle's debated win at Aston Villa on Saturday could scarcely have been more favorable for advocates for VAR – or more damaging for those who argue football is better without it.
The first goal was clearly offside, a full-back somehow avoided giving away a penalty for handball, and the same player could arguably should have been dismissed for a dangerous tackle as well.
One manager commented: "I'm so torn because the game is more exciting without VAR regarding excitement and the spectacle for the fans."
"But it does give correct outcomes. It does make the game more precise in terms of officiating. You have to respect those moments."
The opposing manager added, saying "VAR is necessary. It's necessary to help the referees".
Additionally, there was some controversy at another ground during a separate match.
A teenage player had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside, while the opposition were angry a penalty was given against them.
Another top manager stated: "Overall, I prefer watching football without VAR because if you then score you're like 'it's a goal'."
"I like VAR only for the definitive and unmistakable things... So let's stay away from that judgment calls and only go to offside decisions."
Another esteemed coach was uncertain whether football was improved with VAR, despite witnessing a goal denied for a questionable offside in his side's win.
"Sometimes before I thought it was better and sometimes I think VAR aids us to have a fairer game," he said. "Honestly I don't know."
Have Referees Become Over-Dependent on VAR Now?
For some, it is simple – rather than VAR being a solution for wrong decisions, they would contend officials just need to make correct calls.
When asked whether the mistakes seen put him in support of VAR, a legendary forward said: "No. I would like the officials to perform their duties correctly. It is not too much to ask, is it?"
"If you ever needed any evidence of the damage that VAR has done to referees, I think Saturday is a prime illustration of that."
"These guys look petrified to make a decision because they didn't have a safety net."
A retired shot-stopper commented: "It shows you why we use VAR. A lot of decisions the officials got wrong... VAR is like a comfort blanket for referees."
"The decision is taken away from the officials. The assistant referee has been told all season not to put their flag up, so their instinct has been trained."
When asked whether football had become overly dependent on VAR, a head coach had some sympathy with the argument.
"One could argue to say yes," he said. "Because when VAR is there, there is a tendency to think 'oh well I won't give that because VAR is there to check it'."
"Then your decision making isn't as decisive as it would otherwise need to be. Maybe there is a difference there."
But a retired official believes it is incorrect to claim officials use as a crutch VAR.
"I really don't think that's fair," he said. "Clearly I work with them closely and I know these guys and they're not like that."
"I spent a portion of my career with VAR and half without it... And your processes essentially stay the same."
"What has changed though is with VAR you don't have that moment in a game where you know you've made a really big error and you now have to reset and go again."
'Superior Without It' or 'Chaotic' – Supporter Views
Opposed to VAR:
- James: Football without VAR is real football. As a long-term attendee, the last few years have been terrible in comparison. I don't bother cheering goals any more as the officials are far more interested in finding ways of disallowing goals than the entertainment of the match-going fan.
- Frank: I supported the introduction of VAR, but it was great not having it. It wouldn't be so bad if there weren't so many absurd VAR errors.
- Alan: Much, much better [without]. VAR has ruined the game, fortunately I now support grassroots football where there are humans, making human mistakes.
- Stephen: Much better without VAR. No waiting for obvious incidents that everyone can see immediately but takes VAR forever to decide. Time for return of refs and linesman to start officiating the game again.
- Mike: Better, even though a goal was probably wrongly disallowed. Right or wrong, its so much better to just know immediately if its a goal or not. VAR is a joy-killer.
- Les: The game is so much better without VAR. It flows without problem like it used to do. The officials are there to make decisions correct or incorrect. VAR are always making wrong calls so I can't see the point of it.
In Support of VAR:
- Bonnie: As a supporter, that is exactly the decision that VAR doesn't get credit for. VAR gets it right every time.
- Roger: That was so obviously offside, have linesman forgotten how to spot stuff like this since the introduction of VAR? Poor decision.
- Peter: There's an simple solution for VAR offsides. If you can watch one TV replay and see the on-field decision is clearly wrong, you intervene.
- Stephen: That's what you all wanted isn't it? More goals irrespective of whether they're actually fair or not?
- Liga: It's these types of situations and these types of situation only where VAR should and needs to be used for offsides. Not those hairline millimetre nonsense situations.
- Callum: This season is proving 2 things. 1) VAR is a necessity. 2) Brave football is dead.
- Ben: What are linesman for exactly? Having no VAR is yet more chaos, who makes these decisions?
