VAR GOT IT ALL RIGHT – BUT STILL NEEDS REFORM
ANOTHER day, another disaster for VAR. But before everyone leaps aboard the anti-technology bandwagon, let’s get one thing straight.
At Wembley on Wednesday night, VAR got everything right. Without it, Kieran Trippier would not have been awarded a penalty. Fernando Llorente would also have escaped censure for holding Rochdale’s Harrison McGahey and Spurs would have wrongly led 2-1 at half-time.
This is a crucial point. After all, the sole purpose of VAR is to eradicate incorrect refereeing decisions. In demonstrating its ability to do so, VAR has passed its MOT.
The problem – and it is a big problem – lies in implementation. Primarily, there’s a lack of transparency. Despite a giant screen at both ends of Wembley, nobody could see what was being reviewed.
The result was confusion, frustration and - ultimately abuse for ref Paul Tierney.
“The supporters do need to be involved in the process,” said Dale boss Keith Hill. “It would make the game better and protect the referee. Why are we hiding the decision?”
Feeding into that frustration was the sheer number of delays. So often did Tierney shove a finger in his lug that you feared he had tinnitus.
Current guidance states that EVERY major decision must be checked. Thus Son Heung-Min’s 18-yard opener was subject to scrutiny despite everybody knowing perfectly well it was fine.
This has to cease, or at least be streamlined. Football’s enduring popularity relies on speed and flow, on the raw emotion of big moments. Core values that must be protected.
Predictably, epitaphs are already being written for VAR, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
It eliminates injustice, but it has issues. We must be patient. And as guardians of the game, the authorities must must ensure VAR is more fan-friendly.