Show red card to video technology

AS a football fan who has been consistently opposed to the introduction of technology into the refereeing of football I feel that my worst fears are being confirmed by the early chaos around the introduction of Video Assistance Referee (VAR).

In the Chelsea v Arsenal game we had the referee Martin Atkinson consulting the video referee on a penalty decision several minutes after it happened.

We are then told by Mike Riley the refereeing supremo that if Arsenal had scored a goal in the meantime this would have been ‘chalked off’ and a penalty awarded to Chelsea if the video ref ruled in their favour!

We are assured this will prevent any argument over decisions? Try telling that to DID you or anyone who know go to Bath Lane Catering College 1959-1961.

Several of us have kept in touch and wonder if anyone would be interested in meeting up with us Anne (Harbron), Arsene Wenger in the event of the penalty being awarded!

It is significant that when managers were asked about their views on VAR, the one manager who had seen it in action was David Wagner during his time in the Bundesliga and he was totally against it.

It is only when we eventually see the destructive impact of video technology on the attraction of the game that we love that we will call a halt to this media-driven madness and get back to the referee being the sole arbiter on the field of play with all the human frailties that simply add to the excitement of the wonderful game of football! ROB HIGGINS

Denton Burn