How can VAR be improved?

Video Assistant Referees (VAR) started to become a mainstream feature of football last year, when the International Football Association Board incorporated them into the Laws of the Game. From this season VAR is being used in the English Premier League and even at this early stage there has been controversy over the decisions it has produced. The debate over the virtues and drawbacks of VAR technology is just starting and is set to continue as its use becomes more widespread.

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The single biggest argument in favour of VAR is the potential it appears to offer to eliminate the mistakes caused by human error that frustrate managers, players and supporters. The use of the technology focuses on three kinds of major incidents within football matches – goals, penalties and red cards – and already it has led to goals being ruled out after it detected players in marginally offside positions. Although it is annoying for fans if this happens to their team, few would argue that correcting mistakes over goals or red cards will not improve fairness in the game – as well as helping to rid it of repeated suggestions that the bigger teams are favoured by the officials.

Despite this, the introduction of VAR has not met with total approval. One group that has expressed concerns is the sports betting sector, who are indicating that the inconsistent use of the technology across different football competitions is making it very hard for them to set in-play football betting prices, leading to loss of customers. Nor are they the only ones with doubts, as many football fans, managers and journalists are arguing that VAR is causing too many delays during matches and is robbing key moments – such as the scoring of a goal – of crucial excitement and spontaneity. 

What is noticeable about the issues people are flagging up about VAR though is that they are to do with the way it is being used, not the actual technology itself. This suggests that its use needs to be smoothed out, not abandoned. Both fans and journalists are already putting forward ideas for making VAR work better. One way in which it could be used without creating as many in-game disruptions as it currently does is if it is limited to incidents where there is an objective right or wrong according to the rules. For example, whether a goal is offside or onside can be objectively determined according to the laws of the game, but something like a handball can be more subjective. Although handling the ball in the penalty area is an offence that should lead to a penalty, in reality sometimes the ball strikes a player’s hand or arm accidentally. In this situation the discretion of the human referee is more effective than leaving the decision to technology.

While VAR is going to be a part of football from now on, looking to restrict its use to objective rather than subjective incidents could make it more effective.

by AGONASPORT Sales

Image Source: sport24.gr

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