VAR (Virtual Assistant Referee) in football is a hot topic among footie fans these days. Whilst some see the merits, unsurprisingly, football purists prefer the old way and see VAR as only a hindrance to the game.
For the most part, VAR is renowned for getting the most contentious on-field decisions right, however, it’s still far from the perfect product. VAR has been widely used in the Premier League since the 2019-20 season, but evidently, there are still teething problems with the technology.
Here at talkSPORT BET, we’re asking the ultimate question. When taking all the pros and cons into account, has VAR changed the beautiful game for better or worse?
When Was VAR Introduced?
There was talk of VAR for years, but the technology wasn’t written into the football laws until March 2018. Historically, the first major tournament to use VAR was the 2018 FIFA World Cup in which 455 incidents were checked and a grand total of 20 VAR reviews occurred.
VAR impacted several games in Russia, and Diego Costa’s effort for Spain against Portugal in a group game was the first goal to be awarded via a VAR intervention. There was a record number of penalties awarded, and, as to be expected, VAR was both praised and criticised among fans, pundits, managers, and players.
VAR slowly but surely found its way into more major club and international tournaments. The UEFA Champions League and Premier League introduced VAR for the 2019-20 season and it’s now used in the top five European leagues, as well as several other leagues and cups across the globe.
Looking ahead, for example, VAR will be used at the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. While this is a reassurance for some, others may already fear the potentially negative impacts of VAR on the scoring.
As it stands, England and France are the hot favourites for outright winner, according to the Euro betting odds. Of course, plenty of factors can affect the fate of these prolific squads in the tournament, but if wrongful decisions courtesy of VAR happen to interfere, there’ll be red-hot fury…
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Why Was VAR Introduced?
With technology advancing across other sports, including tennis, VAR in football was inevitable. Ultimately, it was the introduction of goal-line technology that paved the way for VAR.
In a nutshell, the main reason why VAR was introduced was to aid the on-field referee. With packed stadiums, 22 players on the field, and the game being played at a blistering pace, it’s impossible for the referee to get every decision right without some kind of help.
When it comes down to it, VAR is essentially a glorified second opinion. It gives the referee the chance to take another look or consider multiple angles of an incident.
The Effects of VAR
Despite what some football fans believe, referees were doing a great job before VAR. In a recent study of 13 men’s national leagues, for instance, the correct decisions since VAR increased from 92.1% to 98.3%.
However, there have been some instances where VAR has failed. In a high-profile game between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in October 2023, for example, a perfectly fine Liverpool goal was disallowed by the on-field referee. VAR reviewed the decision and correctly gave the goal, but a communication breakdown led to the wrong decision being made on the field.
VAR has also had an impact on football betting. There’s a break in betting when VAR is in play, and football odds fluctuate before and after the call. This can have a real influence on the momentum of in-play betting.
It goes without saying: if you’re concerned about the way that factors like VAR affect your bets or general gambling, be sure to check out our Safer Gambling Portal for tools and guides on how to continue responsibly.
Are There More Goals?
In the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, there were over a hundred overturned VAR calls, with 33 of those leading to goals. There were also 55 decisions leading to disallowed goals.
Are There More Penalties?
The Premier League is arguably the greatest football league in the world, but VAR certainly impacted the 2022-23 season. In terms of penalties, VAR awarded 26 penalties and overturned 12, with three of those being offsides.
Can the Referee Overrule VAR?
The VAR may provide more angles to look at, more time to make the correct decision, and the ability to draw lines on the pitch for offside calls, but the final decision is always made by the on-field referee.
Even when VAR is convinced of a decision, the on-field ref can still overrule. The VAR was introduced for human error, so subjective decisions are rarely overturned.
More often than not, VAR will advise the on-field referee to head to the monitor to review the situation. The ref usually agrees with VAR, but there have been occasions when the referee has stuck with their initial call.
Why is VAR So Controversial?
The flow of a football match is vital to the fast-paced nature of the modern game. VAR has certainly slowed down the game, with some decisions taking far too long.
One of the main reasons football fans dislike VAR is how long a decision takes. In the inaugural season of VAR in the Premier League, for example, the reviews took an average of 50 seconds.
In addition, some fans believe that offside calls are too harsh, while others believe that offside is simply offside. The lines are drawn, and the slightest of margins can allow or disallow a goal.
Scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in football, and the stadiums erupt when the fans see their team find the net. However, supporters are hesitant to celebrate these days for fear that their joy will turn to heartache due to a VAR decision. On the flip side, fans can now celebrate twice if the goal is eventually awarded.
There’s a reason why football is the biggest sport on the planet, and VAR has threatened to disrupt the vibe of the beautiful game. At the moment, VAR is far from perfect and there’s still a long way to go. But with every instance of a bad decision and passionate backlash from fans, surely critique can only lead to a better version of VAR in the near future?
