How English football has adapted to VAR technology so far
In April, Premier League football clubs voted against implementing video assistant referees or VAR technology in every league game in the upcoming 2018/19 season.
The top brass of English football rejected the proposals as did the English Football League (EFL), who opted to vote against the idea of a winter break. Instead, the clubs opted for another season of trials to learn more after widespread criticism from some sections. VAR technology will be trialled in more Carabao Cup and FA Cup ties with a view that VAR decisions will communicate more clear communications with spectators in the stands and on television — something that has held back the technology back from being welcomed with open arms by fans.
In one of the few VAR trials in the FA Cup last season, there were farcical scenes in the contest between Tottenham and Rochdale. The VAR ruled out two Spurs goals without disclosing to the crowd or the respective management teams why. Perhaps one of the most high-profile examples of VAR technology’s controversial decision-making system was in the end-of-season friendly between England and Italy. England were leading going into the latter stages of the game only for the Italians to be awarded a penalty kick after German referee Deniz Aytekin was asked to review a potential by the game’s video assistant referee.
England defender James Tarkowski did not appear to deliberately trip Federico Chiesa, standing on the Italian’s toe while having his eyes fixed on the ball. Nevertheless, Aytekin opted to reverse his decision and award a penalty, to the dismay of the Wembley crowd. VAR technology was supposedly designed to help with objective decisions. If it starts dabbling in subjective decisions, what is the point of having a referee on the field anymore?
Of course, we will all have our fingers crossed that VAR works seamlessly in this summer’s 2018 World Cup. Let’s hope that England are not on the receiving end of another poor refereeing decision like in 2010 when Frank Lampard’s shot crossed the line against Germany. Gareth Southgate’s current young squad are not considered likely to prevail in Russia, rated as 16/1 odds with most bookmakers, although Unibet has the Three Lions rated even better at 17/1.
FIFA has confirmed that it is taking significant steps to keep fans inside and outside the stadiums informed about all VAR decisions during the 2018 World Cup. Broadcasters and infotainment systems will display what the video assistant referees are viewing to help fans, players and management teams better understand the decision-making process. If this summer proves a success, it could pave the way for full integration into the Premier League in 2019/20.