VAR Check Causing More Harm Than Good? – See Controversial Decisions Across Football Leagues

VAR, the Video Assistant Referee, has sparked significant debate and controversy within football leagues worldwide.

Initially introduced in 2018 as a technological aid to assist referees in making accurate decisions, VAR has unfortunately become a source of frustration for players, managers, and fans alike.

It is worth noting that VAR received official approval from FIFA for implementation in football during the FIFA Council meeting on 16 March 2018 in Bogotá.

The pure intention behind this system was to minimize errors and promote fairness by having a team of officials review replays of crucial moments in a match and provide guidance to the on-field referee.

However, it has become evident that VAR is far from flawless and has, in fact, caused more confusion and disorder than clarity.

VAR: Time Consuming

VAR, or Video Assistant Referee, has been plagued by a significant problem: the prolonged duration it takes for decisions to be reached.

Fans are forced to endure several minutes of waiting as officials meticulously analyze footage, resulting in a detrimental loss of momentum and a diminished sense of excitement within the game.

This frustration is particularly pronounced when a goal is scored, only to be subsequently disallowed following an extensive VAR review.

The jubilant celebrations of players and the cheers of fans are abruptly halted, leaving a pervasive feeling of deflation and disillusionment among all involved.

VAR Check Lack Of Consistency

VAR faces the challenge of inconsistent implementation, which further complicates matters.

There are instances where obvious decisions are reversed after VAR intervention, while similar incidents in other matches go unreviewed.

This lack of uniformity only serves to confuse and frustrate players and fans, as there appears to be no definitive criteria for VAR usage.

Consequently, this has resulted in allegations of favouritism, as certain teams and leagues seem to gain more advantage from VAR decisions than others.

Human Element Factor

The introduction of VAR has also stripped away the human aspect of the game. Refereeing judgments have always been an integral part of football, and although errors were made, they were acknowledged as a natural part of the sport.

However, with the implementation of VAR, there is a growing concern that the game is excessively dependent on technology, leading to a diminishing role for the referee.

Consequently, this has ignited discussions regarding the future of the game and whether it is sacrificing its essence in the relentless pursuit of progress.

Toying With Player Emotions And Unfortunate Match Losses

Furthermore, the introduction of VAR has altered the dynamics of the game.

With the knowledge that goals can be overturned after a VAR review, players have become more cautious in their celebrations.

Consequently, the emotional aspect of the game has been affected, depriving both players and fans of the complete joy and excitement that comes with scoring a goal, as the looming possibility of VAR interference dampens the experience.

Additionally, VAR has placed an additional burden on referees, who must now make split-second decisions while being aware that their rulings can be overruled by VAR.

Moreover, VAR has also resulted in teams losing matches that they would have otherwise won. In a sport where every point is crucial, a single VAR decision can significantly impact a team’s position in the league.

This has understandably led to increased frustration and anger from managers and players, who feel that their hard work and dedication are being undermined by a flawed technology.

Below are some of the recent controversial VAR decisions since the technology debuted

Tottenham vs Liverpool – 2023/24 Premier League Season

VAR’s latest questionable choice occurred during Liverpool’s trip to Tottenham. Prior to this encounter, both teams had maintained unbeaten records in the Premier League.

Luiz Dias of Liverpool was the one to break the deadlock and score the opening goal. However, the on-field referees incorrectly deemed it offside. Subsequent reviews after the match revealed that Dias was actually onside.

This turn of events proved to be unfortunate for Liverpool, as they ended up with two players sent off during the match and ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat.

Getafe vs Barcelona LaLiga Match –  2023/24 Season

Barcelona is one of the clubs speculated to have been greatly affected by VAR’s poor officiating decisions.

Once again, during their visit to Getafe, they endured an appalling display of physical football.

Nevertheless, the most significant mistake occurred when Ronald Araujo was clearly fouled, yet VAR disregarded it due to an alleged handling of the ball by Gavi.

However, upon further examination following the game, it was discovered that Gavi did not actually handle the ball.

Manchester United Vs Manchester City – Premier League Clash – 2022/23 Season

During this match, Manchester City appeared to be on the verge of securing a triumph at the Old Trafford until the 78th minute when Casemiro released Marcus Rashford.

Despite being in an offside position compared to Manuel Akanji, Rashford continued his run towards the ball, giving the impression that he was going to take a shot.

Surprisingly, this allowed Bruno Fernandes, who was onside, to seize the opportunity and take the shot instead.

This action clearly violated the rule, as Rashford was not supposed to make any attempts at the ball. Nevertheless, the goal was upheld by VAR, and Manchester City proceeded to score another goal.

Manchester City vs Southampton Premier League Clash – 2020/21 Season

On this particular day, Manchester City’s Phil Foden swiftly advanced towards the goal but was obstructed by Alex McCarthy within the penalty box.

Remarkably, Phil Foden displayed such integrity that he refrained from falling as he believed he could still secure a goal.

Unfortunately, he failed to hit his intended target. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not assess the clear foul, as Foden did not remain grounded.

Nevertheless, Manchester City emerged victorious with a remarkable 5-2 scoreline.

West Ham Vs Chelsea Premier League  Clash  – 2022/23 Season

The 2022/23 Premier League season witnessed a disappointing performance from VAR. Among the notable events, Chelsea’s draw against West Ham stood out. In a match where the scoreline was 1-1, Chelsea’s midfielder Connor Callagher aimed a direct shot towards the goal, only for Soucek to seemingly make contact with the ball using his arm.

However, VAR neglected to review the incident, citing Soucek’s motion towards the ground as a reason. Consequently, Chelsea had to settle for a single point in the match.

Juventus Vs Salernitana – Serie A 2022/23 Season 

Juventus encountered a severe managerial crisis and were additionally burdened by a subpar refereeing system during their match against Salernitana.

Despite these challenges, the Old Ladies managed to secure a well-deserved victory with a last-minute goal from Milik.

This triumphant moment sparked exuberant celebrations among Juventus fans, although it resulted in the referee issuing red cards to Milik, Fazio, and Cuadrado.

To exacerbate the situation, the goal was disallowed due to an offside decision based on one angle, which indicated that Leonardo Bonucci was in an offside position. However, another angle, which was not reviewed by VAR, clearly showed that Antonio Candreva had played Bonucci onside.

Tottenham vs Newcastle Premier League Match – 2020/21 Season

To this day, it appears that some referees are still uncertain about the arm ball rule.

During the match between Tottenham and Newcastle, Tottenham was on the verge of securing three points until Eric Dier unintentionally handled the ball after Andy Carroll’s header.

Dier’s back was turned to the ball as it was a contest in the air, and he couldn’t clearly see the ball.

Nevertheless, VAR intervened and awarded a penalty, disregarding the ball-to-hand rule, resulting in Newcastle gaining a point from the match.

Japan Vs Spain World Cup Match  In 2022

In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Japan found themselves in the same group as Spain. During their match, Japan managed to score a goal in the 51st minute.

However, there were controversies surrounding this goal. It appeared that the ball may have been out of play before Kaoru Mitoma passed it back inside for Ao Tanaka to score.

The referee, who was positioned on the goal line, deemed it a goal because a small part of the ball was still touching the line. However, upon reviewing the angle of the incident, it seemed questionable.

Surprisingly, it took FIFA approximately 20 hours to release a TV angle that clearly showed the ball had indeed gone out of play before Mitoma made his pass.

Unfortunately, this revelation came too late, as this goal turned out to be the one that eliminated Germany from the World Cup.

Everton Vs Arsenal  Premier League 2021/22 Season

In December, Arsenal found themselves up against a formidable opponent in Everton, who were in a precarious position in the league standings.

Throughout the match, Everton employed various questionable tactics, but one incident stood out in particular – a horrendous foul that clearly warranted a red card.

It was Ben Godfrey of the Toffees who committed the foul, as he made a tackle on Takehiro. His studs struck Tomiyasu’s face with such force that it left a lasting scar, highlighting the severity of the impact.

Surprisingly, both the referee and VAR deemed the incident unintentional. As a result, Godfrey managed to escape without receiving any disciplinary action, and Everton emerged victorious with a 2-1 win.

Mainz Vs Frieburg Bundesliga Match – 2017/18 Season

Mainz and Freiburg were both participants in the Bundesliga during the 2017-2018 season, SportXparte reports.

However, during one of their encounters, as the first half was nearing its end, Mainz made a plea for a handball, which unfortunately was rejected by the referee.

Surprisingly, it took a considerable amount of time, approximately six minutes into halftime, before a decision was finally reached.

Interestingly, the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) then deemed it necessary to award a penalty.

However, this decision came after both teams had already retreated to the dressing room. Consequently, the players were summoned from the locker room to execute the penalty kick. The delay caused by the VAR and its judge in imposing the punishment was highly unprofessional and quite remarkable.

In Conclusion

Many believe that the implementation of VAR in football leagues worldwide has proven to be more detrimental than beneficial.

Although the initial intentions were commendable, the harsh reality is that it has significantly disrupted the natural flow of the game, resulting in inconsistency and the loss of the human element that makes football truly extraordinary.

It is evident that modifications must be made to the VAR system in order to rectify these issues and reinstate the integrity and exhilaration of the beautiful game. Failure to do so will only perpetuate the discontent and controversy that currently plagues football leagues.

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