Considering how recently VAR technology entered the world of football, it is understandable that league officials are constantly trying to improve its implementation. One such example has been the introduction of a policy within PGMOL that aims to only use VAR when absolutely necessary.
This means that manual placement of offside lines (crosshairs) will be available as a back-up option in case SAOT fails to detect an offside infringement.
The Evolution of VAR technology
VAR is a system that allows referees to review key match decisions using high-tech screens and electronics. It has significantly curbed faulty finals in soccer, but the technology isn’t without its critics.
The concept was first conceived as part of the Refereeing 2.0 project by the Royal Netherlands Football Association in the early 2010s, and it was tested through mock trials in the country’s top league in 2012-2013. But it took a while for the technology to gain traction in the sport, particularly with former FIFA president Sepp Blatter generally viewing it unfavorably.
Eventually, the technology found its way into some of Europe’s biggest leagues, including England’s Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, and Spain’s La Liga. And it has been credited with helping to make this past World Cup one of the cleanest in recent history with only four players being sent off throughout the tournament.
However, there’s still controversy surrounding VAR as critics argue that it is too intrusive to the game, and that it can lead to long delays in reviews.
Impact on Premier League
The technology is viewed as an important step in reducing human errors that can have a major impact on games. However, its introduction in English football has been met with controversy.
The Premier League claims VAR is helping to make the game fairer, but critics argue that it has gone far beyond its original intention of correcting clear and obvious mistakes and is in fact making matters worse. The system has also exacerbated frustration amongst fans due to lengthy reviews and has led to a loss of trust in refereeing standards.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have become the first club to put their head above the parapet and propose that VAR be scrapped for next season. The Wolves believe that the unintended consequences of VAR are damaging the relationship between clubs and supporters, tarnishing the reputation of the league and undermining the value of its brand.
The proposal will need 14 votes in favour to be passed, but the Premier League feels that abolishing the system would lead to erroneous decisions and negatively impact the experience of fans at matches.
Impact of VAR technology on Global Football
While VAR has made football fairer, it has also caused controversy. Some fans feel that it has removed the game’s flamboyance and charm. This is due to the frequent stoppages that occur while the referee checks for VAR decisions.
The technology has been widely adopted in the world’s top leagues. Australia’s A-League and the US Major League Soccer were among the first to implement VAR in 2017. The Bundesliga, Serie A, and France’s Ligue 1 followed suit. In 2018, the UEFA Champions League also started using the system.
While the majority of fans support the use of VAR, some would prefer a less prominent role for the technology. This is a common sentiment among sports fans in general, who often feel that technological intervention in their favorite game has taken it too far.
A similar sentiment exists in cricket, tennis, and rugby, where a smaller percentage of fans would like to see the use of technology reduced.
Conclusions
VAR can be used to review four different types of decisions: goals and the violations that precede them, red cards, and penalties. If a decision is deemed to be a clear error, it can be overturned by the head referee.
VAR is a relatively new technology in football. The goal of this system is to make the game fairer by reducing referee bias and making it more accurate.
However, it is important to note that the introduction of VAR may have negative consequences for soccer players and coaches. For example, it has been speculated that the availability of VAR could influence the referee’s decision by causing them to subtly favor the home team.
This favoring can impact the game results, and some think it could be driven by sports betting speculation, considering the growth of the industry in recent years.
In addition, the fact that a questionable call in a soccer match can be a significant factor in deciding the outcome of the entire game may also create tensions between players and coaches. This is especially true in the case of a penalty shootout.
