by Wolves manager Gary O’Neil declared: “What’s the point of VAR?” His team felt aggrieved after even more decisions were crucial to victory at Fulham. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe labeled a penalty against his own club in stoppage time against Paris Saint-Germain a “bad decision” which “looks completely different” in a delayed replay for officials watching on monitors.
The current cases follow an increase in the use of technology in football in recent years but none seem to generate as much debate and questioning as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Overall, it is felt that visible small calls are improved during the season and that referees on the field receive additional help. However, there have been a number of high-profile incidents in recent times that have resulted in clubs, or personnel within them, eventually complaining about the decision or the decision-making process, with another coming recently in the Champions League.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag felt aggrieved that a number of calls went against them in their 4-3 defeat to FC Copenhagen, including the decision to send off Marcus Rashford for foul play.
But the other side of the debate is – not being absolute, specific lines on what is and isn’t foul, where a decision should or shouldn’t be made and so on – the bar for where VAR intervenes and decide about it. it seems that incidents are much higher (or not allowed) in the Premier League than in European competition.
It is widely believed on these shores that the penalty against Newcastle for PSG would not have been awarded in England, and that Jarrell Quansah’s late goal for Liverpool against Toulouse would not have been chalked up for a handball against Alexis McAllister much earlier in the opening game. . But neither of these two situations happened in the Premier League, and referees in Europe – under the Uefa banner – have different takes and different levels of intervention.
Here’s everything you need to know about VAR, including the latest complaints against it.
What went wrong?
Many, Newcastle felt aggrieved at being awarded a penalty for handball after a VAR review was not given in open play, in the final minute of injury time in their 1-1 draw at PSG.
Earlier in the competition, Man United complained about Rashford’s red card, which was given out for walking across and out on an opponent’s leg and shin. Ten Hag insisted his team had seen three “very debatable” penalties against them in four games and called his referee “very tough”.
In domestic football, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta complained about “unacceptable” errors by on-field officials and VAR during his side’s defeat at Newcastle, while Wolves boss O’Neil believes he is being treated unfairly through the use of technology .
Earlier in the season he labeled a penalty decision given against his team and upheld by VAR as “scandalous” – also against Newcastle. VAR sent referee Michael Salisbury to the screen to award a penalty after Joao Gomes brought down Harry Wilson in the box, and Willian scored his second penalty of the game to seal all three points for Fulham. O’Neil highlighted the decisions surrounding the late penalty, Carlos Vinicius’ alleged head on Max Kilman and why Tim Ream didn’t get a second yellow for a foul on Hwang Hee-Chan, and the Whites were awarded the first penalty for on a lie. Tom Cairney was Nelson Semedo, also controversial. Worth noting, VAR would never intervene on Ream, as they only deal with direct red card offences, not other fouls.
Ange Postecoglou recently suggested that clubs have to take some of the blame for long stoppages for VAR, saying: “Part of it is self-abnegation because if we come out every week complaining about decisions that happen, every decision is checked that forensics and we’ll be sitting around for a long time every game trying to figure out what’s going on.”
It must be noted, however, that the vast majority of these are subjective opinions and when Arteta sees the fault, another manager, supporter or indeed another official may see justification for the decision.
There was one incident that wasn’t subjective, but rather a pretty obvious mistake, when Luis Diaz’s goal for Liverpool against Tottenham was ruled out for offside and then allowed to remain disallowed, despite the VAR officials running their process and indicating that the delegate was on the other side. The “significant human error” was caused by the official, Darren England, apparently forgetting to be offside rather than being awarded a goal in the first place.
At the other extreme, Millie Bright criticized yes no VAR in the first edition of the Women’s Nations League, after a goal that was clearly allowed to stand against England would have been simply ruled out.
Other glaring VAR errors for which PGMOL had to apologize included no penalty being awarded to Wolves against Man United after Andre Onana clattered Sasa Kalajdzic, Brentford’s goal against Arsenal was not properly checked with no away lines drawn and West Ham’s late equalizer conceded. out with treachery, when there was none to be seen.
What has gone right?
Indeed, quite a lot.
It’s ignored when three or four calls are made at once, when someone makes a serious complaint or at least it’s a subjective call that a majority seems to disagree with.
For example, in a packed Tottenham vs Chelsea match, several goals were correctly ruled out for offside due to the use – or checking – of VAR and the penalty awarded was when Cristian Romero was dismissed as a result of interference VAR too.
These calls that are widely accepted as correct are generally not highlighted, in part because the technology exists for that reason: it is expected to help officials make the correct calls on a second look.
That doesn’t mean they don’t happen, though. The Premier League reported that 82 per cent of decisions were correct in the season before VAR was introduced, rising to 94 per cent correct in 2019/20.
What is the process for VAR checks?
From the Premier League website: VAR will only be used for “glaringly obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents” in four match-changing situations: goals; penalty decisions; straight red card incidents; and a forgotten acquaintance.
Whenever any of those match situations occur or may occur, VAR is constantly reviewing and monitoring match footage from the hub at Stockley Park.
If there is a decision to be made, the VAR or Assistant VAR (AVAR) will inform the referee that play should be stopped while checks are carried out, before recommending a cancellation, a check on the pitch side of the monitor for the ref or continuation forward. of the play with the original decision on the field.
It is only when the ball has gone dead to inform the referee that a check is in progress if play is already underway.
The referee can then check the monitor or accept the VAR recommendation. After reviewing the pitchside monitor, they can then stick with their initial assessment or overturn the original, before communicating their new decision to the crowd.
What has PGMOL said?
Professional Game Match Officers Limited referee chief executive Howard Webb took on the role last year to improve the standard of the office in the English game and help oversee the smoother use of technology.
PGMOL confirmed to the League Managers Association that “they are actively looking at how best to incorporate VARs into matchday refereeing teams, to ensure that the dynamic between the on-field referee and VAR helps produce positive results.”
After the Diaz incident, “admits the organization[d] significant human error occurred” and introduced additional processes to ensure a recurrence. They also released the audio of that incident, an “unusual step” according to Webb, “to show everyone what became very clear to us very quickly, human error and loss of concentration.”
Webb suggested increasing the number of VAR-specific officials but Lee Mason presents a cautionary tale. The former referee was appointed full-time VAR for 2022/23, but stepped down from the role last season following the aforementioned error over Brentford’s goal against Arsenal. Former PGMOL boss Keith Hackett wrongly labeled Mason, who previously campaigned to have Newcastle’s goal disallowed, as a “serial offender” – however, at the start of the current campaign, However. – employed as a referee coach for the lower leagues. That did not stop him from questioning why his credentials are suitable to lead less experienced officers despite having already been removed from his post.
Update: PGMOL confirmed to The Independent that Lee Mason no longer works on VAR.
