Why misery of VAR is killing game we love

‘Madness’ of VAR dominates game over-ruling 2 goals AND a penalty

LET’S GIVE give credit where it is due. Southampton’s win at Leicester was, in the most literal sense, one of VAR’s best days.

Southampton were given a penalty but Shane Long was just offside in the build-up. Leicester thought they had snatched a late, completely undeserved, point when Jonny Evans headed into the net in the last minute.

VAR corrected both. The right decision was made. Justice reigned. A job well done.

Even the managers were happy. ‘VAR was an important tool today and it worked fantastic,’ said Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl. ‘The most important thing was that it was fair. We are using that high line to defend set-pieces, we know VAR is there and it’s fantastic.’ Brendan Rodgers, too, could not grumble. ‘You think we have the point but it was correct on both incidents. Jonny was offside, we can’t complain.’

So, if VAR worked so perfectly, why is there still the feeling among fans that something inherent to football has been lost? Celebrations cut short. Celebrations not even started. More long waits.

Peter Schmeichel, father of Leicester goalkeeper Kasper, was at the King Power Stadium. ‘I was at a match that saw two goals celebrated then disallowed, a pen given and then not given, so tight that you could argue that it all should have stood. We need to get rid of this ridiculous system.’

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, one of VAR’s most vocal critics, had mixed views. ‘Penalty given to Southampton but the dots came out and ruled offside. Decision went for my side but it was b******s,’ was his view after the first incident. Of the disallowed equaliser: ‘Clearly and obviously offside. One replay is all you need. No requirement for silly dots guessing where an arm starts and a shoulder ends.’ Elsewhere, VAR remained a talking point. Crystal Palace fans held up anti-VAR banners at Selhurst Park yet that did not stop the same supporters chanting for the technology when they wanted PierreEmerick Aubameyang sent off. There were further vocal protests at Stamford Bridge as both Chelsea and Burnley fans sang ‘F*** VAR’. ‘I don’t think the fans are going off the oneoff decisions,’ said Chelsea boss Frank Lampard. ‘I believe it’s more the passion killer that it is and you have to wait and you can’t celebrate. Then the moment you celebrate and it gets taken away. For me, that’s the feeling now. I’m still not yes or no with VAR because we still have to work on it and it still gets some decisions right, but I understand the frustrations.’