The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is a technology introduced to enable human referees to make accurate judgments in football games. They call the referee’s attention to actions that the referee may have missed and ensure that he takes action. As simple as it may look, the VAR has had a huge impact on football matches. In this article, we’ll be going through a complete review of the influence of the VAR in football games. You’ll be reading the pros and cons of its adoption. Without wasting time, let’s get started.
Pros Of VAR In Football Games
Here are some positive effects of the use of VAR on football games:
1. Brings Fairness To The Sport
Before the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) into football, there were so many calls by the referees of top leagues that were questionable.
In fact, in many big games, the pressure that the referees faced often caused them to make mistakes that could cost the game. This led the referee’s action in the match to be over-analyzed thereby causing further controversies on the competency of the referee.
Sometimes, fans of the team affected by the wrong call harbor dislike for the referee. On the pitch of play, there have been incidences where fans in the stadium, hurl insulting words at the referee for a wrong call. To make matters worse, the referee would be accused of showering favoritism to a particular team. However, with the VAR, all of that has reduced tremendously.
Now, the adoption of the VAR has made the game a lot fairer than it was 10-20 years ago. The assistant referees behind the screens can easily call the referee to actions that may have been missed.
For instance, if there’s a handball in the course of an attack, the VAR instantly covers that. As a result, the VAR instantly renders justice in the situation. This could not have happened years ago when there was nothing like VAR in the sport.
2. Serves As A Watchdog For The Referee
A referee can be lenient on the cards that he may decide to dish out when a foul is committed. Other times, he may decide to overlook some fouls too. This has happened many times in the past.
Most of the time due to players’ simulation and faking of injuries that have become rampant in the football world. So, it is understandable when the referee decides not to take some challenges seriously that may happen in a football match
When this happens, there’s usually an uproar about the decisiveness of the referee by the spectators. For instance, if such a scenario is played out in an English Premier League game, the referee is called to explain his decision after the game has concluded. If found guilty of ignoring a wrong decision, he could face punishment. With the introduction of the VAR, all that is done in a different way.
With the VAR, if the referee is adjudged to ignore a potential foul, he is called back during the match. Immediately, the referee is then encouraged to check in with the VAR monitor to confirm.
If the referee is sure of his decision, he can decide to carry on play without using the VAR monitor. However, if he is not, and carries on without using the VAR, then disciplinary action is made. After the game, the referee would then be asked to explain why he didn’t make the call. The VAR in the match acts as the witness and would testify against the referee in such an event.
3. Gives Football A Higher Standard
Football as a sports adopted the use of VAR quite later than other sports. Before this adoption, football was looked upon as a sport filled with unfair acts. In fact, this was often a major point in the argument for a better sport between football and other sports.
People often argued that football was filled with unfair practices and as such, may not be suitable for people.
The proneness of mistakes by human referees without the backup of the VAR was often a point in many conversations. It was because of these kinds of conversations that drove FIFA to introduce the VAR in football matches. As a result, this action helped lift football to a higher standard than other sports.
Now, football ranks up there among sports that have implemented the use of VAR technology to bring fairness to the game. It is now been brought into the conversations alongside lawn tennis, and swimming among top sports in the world. There’s no doubt that the VAR technology is contributed positively to the round leather game.
Cons Of The VAR In Football Games
Here are some of the negative effects of the use of VAR in football games:
1. Time Wasting
If there’s one reason why many have argued against the impact of the VAR in football, then it is its time-wasting potential. Many spectators are of the opinion that the VAR takes away the natural joy of the game and delays the game. This opinion was very common, especially during the time of its implementation in the 2019/2020 football season.
The time wasting has come especially in the area of goal celebration. For instance, when a goal that seems controversial is scored, the officiating referee would have to check the VAR before giving the go-ahead for a celebration.
Sometimes, these checks can span for 2-3 minutes after the goal is scored. As a result, the initial impulsive joy is extinguished. This part of the VAR implementation has been criticized by many spectators.
2. Raises Controversies
The introduction of VAR has raised quite some controversies in the football world. In almost every match day, there is always controversial moments that involve the VAR decision.
For instance, in the area of offside calls, in some cases, a particular action is granted as onside while sometimes, that same action is called as an offside move. This is one of the negative impacts of VAR in football games.
VAR may have managed to bring a little fairness in football games but has not been able to render complete justice in decision-making. Human referees still have to make the final calls. This means there’s no near end to the number of controversial moments that the VAR would face.
Conclusion
The beauty of every sport is for both competing sides to get fair treatment. With the implementation of the VAR, a little of that has been achieved. However, that has come with a price. The adoption has increased the frequency of time wasted and controversial moments. So, what do you think?
So, from your point of view has VAR positively or negatively influenced football?
