HERE’S A FIVE-POINT PLAN TO MAKE VAR BETTER

ENGLISH football is slowly but surely coming round to the idea that the video assistant referee (VAR) is here to stay. Witnessing it during the World Cup helped convert a few sceptics and we’re about to see VAR in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Premier League have agreed in principle to introduce VAR for matches from next season after months of tests and trials. In five years’ time, VAR will almost certainly be part of the fabric of the English game. The march of technology and innovation is relentless and, whether fans like it or not, this is the way we’re heading. But, as a couple of moments in Burnley’s win over Barnsley proved, the teething process in this country is proving quite painful. Here are a few alterations to the process that should be made immediately to smooth this transition:

Paying supporters inside the ground should be informed immediately that a VAR check has been started and why. Messages on big screens and PA announcements would remove all the uncertainty. At Burnley, nobody in the stands was aware that VAR official Lee Mason had told match referee Simon Hooper he was checking for offside against Matej Vydra before the Burnley forward won a penalty. Home fans celebrated the penalty award and were awaiting the kick unaware VAR was in operation. There was confusion and frustration when the decision was reversed.

For penalty decisions, play should be halted. The referee should grab the ball, explain to players that a VAR check is in progress and resume accordingly when the decision has been made. Instead, we had the farcical sight of Vydra starting his penalty run-up before being stopped by Hooper.

It took VAR officials some 90 seconds for the offside to be confirmed. Burnley manager Sean Dyche said afterwards he knew after four seconds that Vydra was offside. So, why did it take those with the replays so long? Though the process will speed up with practice, perhaps a one-minute time limit should be in place.

In American football’s NFL, referees explain their decisions over the PA system to the whole stadium. Surely we could have similar? Hooper could say into a microphone: ‘VAR replays showed Vydra in an offside position before the penalty was awarded. Penalty decision reversed.’

Consistency of use is important. Dyche felt Barnsley keeper Adam Davies had handled outside his area in the first half — a red card offence — but no check was made. If the technology is available, use it.

MAGIC OF THE CUP VERDICT: 1/5

Little romance to be found here — half-full stadium, wholesale changes, VAR farce.