VAR Check. Is It Working?

VAR. The most contentious topic in football. Since its introduction last season, players, fans, pundits, grandmas and pets have all denounced it and called for its removal. A weekend of controversy loudened these calls so is VAR working?

Credit: Andy Rain | PA

For those unaware, VAR is the video assistant referee that allows instances to be reviewed and replayed to give referees the opportunity to change their on-field decisions. So far VAR has overturned 91 decisions this season.

VAR was brought in to rectify referee mistakes. However, it has created more problems than it was brought in to solve. The feeling of euphoria that all watch football to feel has been said to have been ‘killed’ by VAR.

A YouGov survey highlighted that 60% of viewers had lost enjoyment of football due to VAR. With fans preferring to now watch leagues without the technology to witness the raw and original football that they love. One individual claimed that VAR and Football results had killed his desire to post on his blog…

In reality, VAR has corrected many decisions and granted the right outcome often when used. All teams have benefitted at some point or another from it, with some benefitting more than others. But annoyance comes from its lack of transparency with viewers and players.

The unwillingness to encourage on-field referees to review their decisions and instead be amended by a referee in a dark room miles away, really frustrates fans. Referees unwilling to accept their mistakes nor communicate to all the reasoning for their decisions has been another key factor as to why millions are unhappy with VAR and referees as a whole.

Football and sport in general, offer a release and sense of happiness available nowhere else. For that to be ripped away each week by the same men in black, is bound to cause frustration. With changes to it, VAR could work but right now it’s about as useful as Snooker in black and white.