What are the Pros and Cons of VAR?
VAR, from being able to catch an offside when the referee cannot, to checking any penalties or fouls. VAR stands for virtual assistant referee, and has revolutionised football but for the better or worse?
Ever since VAR was introduced it has been incredibly helpful; it has disallowed goals for being offside, clarified fouls, and has enabled goals by giving penalties. It has always been judged for giving the slightest controversial decisions.
It has been used for incredibly hard decisions and is helpful but here are some disadvantages.
VAR is still controlled by the referee; it just provides video help.
VAR is not in all football games and means not all games can be fair.
But, of course, there are some pros.
VAR can please players and fans with decisions changing your teams’ fate for the better.
VAR can be incredibly helpful in providing close-ups for the referee, making something clearer.
Not long ago, there was an incident in which VAR incorrectly disallowed a goal in the Tottenham vs Liverpool game: Diaz was wrongly judged as offside. The offside check was accidentally marked complete, but to the dismay of many. It was an offside error in which VAR made the wrong decision. This is an example of one of the controversial issues.
Following this controversy, a new protocol aimed at enhancing the clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team has been put into place. It has been emphasised that accuracy is more important than efficiency. In addition to the process used previously, the VAR must now confirm the outcome of the VAR check process with the assistant VAR before confirming the final decision to the on-field officials.
VAR has and will be incredibly useful in the past, present, and future. We have no control whether they choose to rid all of us of VAR or if they keep it. But we can still express these feelings of anger towards it, because VAR is and will always be one of the most controversial decisions that makes controversial decisions!
Megan G - 8ERN