The Great Video Assistant Referee Discussion: To Keep, To Remove, or To Reform?

Would football be better if we removed the Video Assistant Referee protocol?

Top-flight supporters, managers, and players were given a taste of what life was like devoid of VAR during the Football Association Cup fourth-round stage – and it is fair to say this matchday was not without its issues.

In the current campaign and the previous FA Cup campaign, VAR has not been brought in until the later stages, with numerous supporters anticipating a return to football free from interruptions from technology.

After a season full of controversy, delayed decisions, and uncertainty sparked by VAR, its continued use has been scrutinized at times, with a vocal contingent arguing the game would be more enjoyable if it were scrapped.

In fact, after a day characterized by long delays, mixed messages, and irate managers in early February, a ex- Premier League midfielder stated: "For the good of the game, you'd get rid of VAR."

"The issue is what it is doing for the games, to the spectacle, with the amount of time it takes to get there."

"Is it preferable to have more right decisions or do you want a more free-flowing football product that is authentic and spur of the moment?"

Following a couple of goals from offside positions being allowed, a obvious penalty not being awarded plus various other contentious calls, the weekend certainly thrust the subject to the forefront of the spotlight.

'Improved Entertainment' or 'Greater Accuracy'?

The arguments against VAR are familiar the arguments against VAR.

Decisions taking too long, goal festivities being paused while deliberations take place, confusion as goals are awarded – or ruled out – for extremely close reasons, denying referees the opportunity to use their own judgment.

But Newcastle's controversial victory at their opponent's ground on Saturday could scarcely have been more favorable for advocates for VAR – or more damaging for those who argue football is superior in its absence.

An opening goal was clearly offside, a full-back inexplicably escaped giving away a penalty for handball, and the same player could arguably should have been dismissed for a reckless tackle as well.

One manager commented: "I am conflicted because the game is better without VAR in terms of excitement and the viewing experience for the supporters."

"But it does give correct outcomes. It does make the game more precise in terms of decision making. You have to respect those moments."

The defeated team's boss added, saying "VAR is necessary. It's necessary to help the referees".

Additionally, there was some controversy at another ground during a different fixture.

A teenage player had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside, while the visiting team were angry a penalty was awarded to their opponents.

A leading coach remarked: "In general, I enjoy watching football without VAR because if you then score you're like 'it's a goal'."

"I like VAR only for the definitive and unmistakable things... We should avoid using it for judgment calls and only go to offside decisions."

A further manager was unsure whether football was better with VAR, despite witnessing a goal denied for a questionable offside in his side's win.

"Sometimes before I thought it was preferable and sometimes I think VAR aids us to have a more fair game," he said. "To be honest I don't know."

Have Referees Become Over-Dependent on VAR Now?

According to some pundits, it is straightforward – rather than VAR being a remedy for wrong decisions, they would contend officials just need to get things right.

When asked whether the errors seen made him in support of VAR, a former striker said: "No. I would like the officials to perform their duties correctly. It is not too much to ask, is it?"

"If you ever needed any evidence of the negative impact that VAR has done to referees, I think that match is a prime illustration of that."

"These guys look petrified to make a decision because they didn't have a comfort blanket."

A former goalkeeper commented: "It shows you why we use VAR. A lot of decisions the officials got wrong... VAR is like a comfort blanket for referees."

"The decision is removed from the officials. The linesman has been told all season not to put their flag up, so their instinct has been trained."

When asked whether football had become too reliant on VAR, a manager had some sympathy with the argument.

"There is an argument to say yes," he said. "Because when VAR is there, there is a inclination to think 'oh well I won't give that because VAR is there to check it'."

"Then your ability to make a call isn't as decisive as it would otherwise need to be. Maybe there is a difference there."

But a former referee feels it is unfair to claim officials hide behind VAR.

"I really don't think that's fair," he said. "Clearly I work with them closely and I know these guys and they're not like that."

"I spent half my career with VAR and half without it... And your approach essentially stay the same."

"What has changed though is with VAR you don't have that moment in a game where you know you've made a really big error and you now have to recover and go again."

'Superior Without It' or 'A Shambles' – Supporter Views

Against VAR:

• James: Football without VAR is real football. As a long-term attendee, the last few years have been dreadful in comparison. I don't celebrate goals any more as the officials are far more interested in finding ways of disallowing goals than the enjoyment of the supporter in the stadium.
• Frank: I supported the introduction of VAR, but it was great not having it. It wouldn't be so bad if there weren't so many absurd VAR errors.
• Alan: Much, much better [without]. VAR has damaged the game, thankfully I now support non-league football where there are humans, making human mistakes.
• Stephen: Much better without VAR. No waiting for clear situations that everyone can see immediately but takes VAR forever to decide. Time for return of refs and linesman to start officiating the game again.
• Mike: Better, even though a goal was probably wrongly disallowed. Right or wrong, its so much better to just know straight away if its a goal or not. VAR is a moment-killer.
• Les: The game is so much better without VAR. It flows without problem like it used to do. The officials are there to make decisions correct or incorrect. VAR are always making wrong calls so I can't see the point of it.

For VAR:

• Bonnie: As a fan of both, that is exactly the decision that VAR doesn't get credit for. VAR gets it right every time.
• Roger: That was so obviously offside, have linesman forgotten how to spot stuff like this since the introduction of VAR? Bad call.
• Peter: There's an simple solution for VAR offsides. If you can watch one TV replay and see the on-field decision is clearly wrong, you intervene.
• Stephen: That's what you all wanted isn't it? More goals regardless of whether they're actually legitimate or not?
• Liga: It's these types of situations and these types of situation only where VAR should and needs to be used for offsides. Not those incredibly marginal nonsense situations.
• Callum: This season is proving 2 things. 1) VAR is a must. 2) Brave football is dead.
• Ben: What are linesman for exactly? Having no VAR is yet more chaos, who makes these decisions?