VAR? We must make it simple and for all
VAR is the word on many footballing lips right now. My view is that there is a grave danger in complicating a simple thing.
By starting in the lower leagues and thinking about what might be practical, the upper echelons of the game could do themselves a huge favour and gain some serious clarity.
For starters, I believe that there is an imperative - the man or woman in the middle on the day should be the person making the decisions. Full stop.
Everybody has a different interpretation of the rules, a different slant on what is or isn’t a goal, a red card or a penalty, and it is absolutely right that each game benefits from consistency when those key decisions are made.
Inconsistency
It should not happen that there is inconsistency because a second VAR ref has a different law interpretation or that a decision is taken outside of the context of the game.
If the ref at the ground knows that the pitch is very difficult to stand up on, then an awkward tackle may be given some understanding that a studio ref may not understand.
Then there is the method of assistance. In lower leagues, the only realistic option is that a screen is available for the ref to review any incident using the match camera at his or her discretion.
So why on earth don’t we just implement that throughout all four divisions? Each team could be given one appeal per half (like in tennis after a ‘clanger’) and the ref could also look at his/her choice if unsure on something big or game changing.
That would mean that obvious errors could be identified and touch and go decisions wouldn’t be overturned. The game would avoid the big
Atmosphere
By keeping the decision on the pitch and not in some faraway land, the atmosphere is retained, the decision stays mistakes and wouldn’t be subjected to the four-minute precision delays that are upsetting the emotional rhythm of our game. consistent, and the decision is made in context.
A simple form of VAR, funded and in place at all clubs, would help the game. The complicated version of VAR probably costs a fortune and is clearly damaging the top of the game and creating a lack of equitability when it comes to the Cups.
I am not a ‘VARxit’ man. We don’t need to throw it away. I believe in creating a simple system extending throughout all leagues that improves major decisions but which supports the continued brilliance of the match day passion and emotion which happens in a game with a human dimension.