VAR. Three letters innocuous to most. But for football supporters across the world, these three letters combined in the correct order bring up a range of emotions.
Ecstasy and despair, relief and heartbreak, confusion and anger. While it has certainly enabled football supporters to enlighten themselves as to the range of their emotional barometer, the common feeling amongst most punters seems to be that of frustration.
Of course, every stakeholder in football has fallen into the trap of believing VAR is the problem since its introduction at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, anyone who remains a member of this group is sadly mistaken.
A controversial incident this week has yet again shown that it is not VAR, but rather referees application of the technology that is the issue people involved with football have, particularly supporters.
The incident at hand took place at the London Stadium on Monday night. Aston Villa trailing 2-1 away to David Moyes’ West Ham, have just equalised through their new boy Ollie Watkins. Unfortunately for Villa, their joy is short-lived as VAR referee Stuart Atwell has come to the conclusion that the former Brentford striker is marginally offside. Frustrating? Yes. Wrong call? No. This was VAR at its best, spotting a mistake by the on-pitch officials and correcting it appropriately.
Unsurprising
This, unsurprisingly, turned out not to be the case. The plotline thickened and blurred simultaneously in a fashion that only VAR could manage. Before the offside goal, Watkins had been dragged in the box by West Ham centre back Angelo Ogbonna.
So, if the foul occurred before the resulting offside, the penalty was given you ask? Logic would suggest that would have been the decision that the VAR official came to. But, as we all know, logic does not come into play when we talk about VAR.
Atwell seemingly failed to see the blatant foul by the Italian and concluded that the goal must be ruled out for offside.
This decision may be the example many call back to in the future as to why it was eventually scrapped. If Atwell was able to apply the law properly, he would have come to the correct decision in that crucial moment on Monday. However, he wasn’t, and Aston Villa suffered the consequences.
This mistake is only one of a countless number of errors VAR officials have made since its induction. Sadly, anybody reading this knows that it will not be the last.
VAR did not make the incorrect decision on Monday. It has never made an incorrect decision throughout the course of its existence. It is the VAR officials who have made the wrong calls. If referees continue to show that they are incapable of using VAR correctly, the question must be asked; is VAR needed in a sport where it is not used correctly?
