VAR is the future even if teething problems show the need for some significant tweaks

THE new Video Aided Referee (VAR) technology being used in England has provoked a lot of debate with feelings mixed regarding its effect on the game.

Followers of the beautiful game were touting for something like this for a long time, but I think they expected it be far more definitive and solve most of the problems that existed especially regarding offside, off the ball incidents, and penalty kicks.

However, we are still witnessing some very controversial decisions which to most people appear to be easy decisions to clarify. Offside seems to be the greatest difficulty and now players are being ruled offside if their toe infringes!

Most soccer fans want to see more goals in games, but decisions of this nature are ruining the game and taking away from its attractiveness. The big debating issue is the definition of a handball and VAR is still getting it wrong despite all the views they can get of an incident.

It is also very frustrating to see a player score a great goal but he is reluctant to celebrate as deep down he knows it could easily be disallowed by the video refs. The same applies to the spectators in the stand or the person watching it on television they have to suspend their celebrations and hope the goal does not become the victim of VAR.

The other bone of contention is the amount of time it takes for some decisions to be reached. I think it is a good idea if VAR are uncertain to bring the match official into the equation more often and view the incident on the sideline screen.

I think if there is any slight element of doubt regarding a score the advantage should go to the scorer. The other big bone of contention is handball and the definition of what a handball is and this continues to be a big debating topic.

We have seen some good decisions but VAR are still getting decisions wrong and this should not be happening with all the technology they have at their disposal. There is a lot to be said for scrapping VAR all together and going back to the old way of three match officials.

Of course, they will get a decision wrong from time to time but in general these things cancel each other out and players would know where they stand when a debatable incident occurs. I think VAR will be retained and rightly so, but a number of adjustments must be made ahead of the new season.