The VAR Discussion: To Use, To Remove, or To Reform?

Might football benefit in the absence of the Video Assistant Referee technology?

Premier League fans, coaches, and footballers received a glimpse of what the game was like devoid of VAR during the Football Association Cup fourth round – and it is accurate to state this weekend was far from free of its controversies.

In the current campaign and the prior FA Cup campaign, VAR has not been brought in until the later stages, with many fans anticipating a return to football free from delays from technology.

After a season riddled with debate, delayed decisions, and uncertainty sparked by VAR, its very existence has been scrutinized repeatedly, with many claiming the game would be improved without it.

In fact, after a day full of extensive stoppages, confusing signals, and irate managers in the start of the month, a former Premier League midfielder remarked: "For the good of the game, you'd get rid of VAR."

"The problem is what it is doing for the games, to the entertainment value, with the amount of time it takes to reach a decision."

"Do you want increased accuracy or do you want a more free-flowing football experience that is authentic and spontaneous?"

Following a couple of goals from offside positions being allowed, a obvious penalty not being awarded plus several other controversial decisions, the weekend certainly thrust the subject to the forefront of the public eye.

'A Better Spectacle' or 'More Precise Decisions'?

Everyone is aware of the arguments against VAR.

Rulings taking too long, celebrations being put on hold while deliberations take place, bewilderment as goals are awarded – or ruled out – for marginal reasons, denying referees the ability to use their own judgment.

But one club's controversial win at their opponent's ground on Saturday could scarcely have been more favorable for supporters of VAR – or worse for those who contend football is superior in its absence.

An opening goal was clearly offside, a defender inexplicably escaped conceding a penalty for handling, and the same player could easily have been dismissed for a dangerous tackle as well.

One manager commented: "I am conflicted because the game is better without VAR regarding excitement and the spectacle for the supporters."

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

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

There was also some controversy at another ground during a different fixture.

A teenage player had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside, while the opposition were angry a penalty was awarded against them.

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 clear and obvious things... So let's stay away from that judgment calls and only go to offside decisions."

Another esteemed coach was uncertain whether football was better with VAR, despite seeing 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 fairer game," he said. "To be honest I don't know."

Are Officials Become Over-Dependent on VAR Now?

For some, it is straightforward – rather than VAR being a solution for errors, they would contend officials just need to make correct calls.

When asked whether the mistakes seen made him in favour of VAR, a legendary forward said: "No. I would like the officials to do their job properly. It is not an unreasonable request, is it?"

"If you ever needed any proof of the negative impact that VAR has done to referees, I think that match is a great example 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 security blanket for referees."

"The decision is taken away from the officials. The assistant referee has been told all season not to put their flag up, so their instinct has been re-trained."

When asked whether football had become overly dependent on VAR, a head coach had some agreement with the notion.

"One could argue 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 sharp as it would normally have to be. Maybe there is a shift there."

But a retired official feels it is unfair to claim officials use as a crutch VAR.

"I genuinely disagree that's accurate," 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 processes 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 'Chaotic' – Supporter Views

Against VAR:

• James: Football without VAR is real football. Having gone, the last few years have been terrible 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 backed the introduction of VAR, but it was great not having it. It wouldn't be so bad if there weren't so many VAR ridiculous errors.
• Alan: Much, much better [without]. VAR has ruined the game, thankfully I now support non-league football where there are humans, making human mistakes.
• Stephen: Much better without VAR. No waiting for obvious incidents 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 chalked off incorrectly. Right or wrong, its so much better to just know immediately 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 rightly or wrongly. 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 blatantly offside, have linesman lost their natural ability to spot stuff like this since the introduction of VAR? Bad call.
• Peter: There's an easy fix for VAR offsides. If you can watch one TV replay and see the on-field decision is obviously incorrect, you intervene.
• Stephen: That's what you all wanted isn't it? More goals irrespective 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 hairline millimetre 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 another shambles, who makes these decisions?