The Great Video Assistant Referee Controversy: To Use, To Remove, or To Change Its Scope?

Would soccer benefit if we removed the Video Assistant Referee technology?

Premier League fans, managers, and players were given a taste of what life was like without VAR during the Football Association Cup fourth round – and it is accurate to state this matchday was not without its issues.

For this season and the previous FA Cup tournament, VAR has not been implemented until the later stages, with many fans looking forward to a reversion to football without stoppages from technology.

After a season riddled with debate, delayed decisions, and uncertainty sparked by VAR, its very existence has been questioned at times, with many claiming the game would be improved if it were scrapped.

Indeed, after a day full of long delays, confusing signals, and furious managers in the start of the month, a ex- Tottenham midfielder stated: "For the good of the game, you'd remove VAR."

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

"Do you want more right decisions or do you want a more free-flowing football experience that is genuine and spur of the moment?"

Following a couple of goals from offside positions being permitted to stand, a obvious penalty being overlooked plus various other contentious calls, the weekend certainly brought the subject back into the public eye.

'Improved Entertainment' or 'Greater Accuracy'?

Everyone is aware of the criticisms of VAR.

Decisions taking too long, goal festivities being put on hold while deliberations take place, bewilderment as goals are given – or ruled out – for marginal reasons, denying referees the opportunity to use their own judgment.

But Newcastle's debated victory at their opponent's ground on Saturday could hardly have gone better for advocates for VAR – or worse for those who argue football is superior without it.

The first goal was obviously offside, a defender somehow avoided giving away a penalty for handling, and the same player could arguably should have been dismissed for a reckless tackle as well.

One manager commented: "I'm so torn because the game is more exciting without VAR in terms of excitement and the spectacle for the supporters."

"But it does give correct outcomes. It does make the game more precise in terms of officiating. You have to respect those moments."

The opposing manager added, saying "VAR is essential. It's necessary to help the referees".

Additionally, there was some dispute at another ground during a different fixture.

A teenage player had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside, while the opposition were furious a penalty was given to their opponents.

Another top manager remarked: "In general, I prefer watching football without VAR because if you then score you're like 'it's a goal'."

"I support VAR only for the definitive and unmistakable things... So let's stay away from that judgment calls and only go to offside checks."

A further manager was unsure whether football was better with VAR, despite seeing a goal chalked off for a debatable 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. "Honestly I don't know."

Have Referees Too Reliant on VAR Now?

For some, it is simple – rather than VAR being a remedy for errors, they would argue officials just need to get things right.

When asked whether the mistakes seen put him in support of VAR, a legendary forward said: "No. I would like the officials to do their job properly. It is not too much to ask, is it?"

"If you ever needed any proof of the damage that VAR has done to referees, I think that match is a prime illustration of that."

"These guys look terrified to make a decision because they didn't have a safety net."

A former goalkeeper added: "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 removed from the officials. The linesman has been told all season not to put their flag up, so their brain has been re-trained."

When asked whether football had become too reliant on VAR, a manager had some sympathy with the argument.

"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 former referee feels it is incorrect to claim officials hide behind VAR.

"I really don't think that's accurate," he said. "Obviously I work with them closely and I know these guys and they're not like that."

"I spent a portion of 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 reset and go again."

'Much Better Without' or 'Chaotic' – Supporter Views

Against VAR:

• James: Football without VAR is real football. Having gone, the last few years have been dreadful in comparison. I don't celebrate goals any more as the officials are far more interested in finding ways of ruling goals out than the enjoyment of the match-going fan.
• Frank: I supported the introduction of VAR, but it was great not having it. It wouldn't be so bad if there weren't so many absurd VAR errors.
• Alan: Much, much better [without]. VAR has damaged the game, fortunately I now support non-league football where there are humans, making human mistakes.
• Stephen: Much better without VAR. No waiting for clear situations that everyone can see immediately but takes VAR forever to decide. Time for return of refs and linesman to start refereeing 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 correct or incorrect. VAR are always making wrong calls so I can't see the point of it.

In Support of VAR:

• Bonnie: As a supporter, that is exactly the decision that VAR doesn't get credit for. VAR gets it right 100%.
• Roger: That was so obviously offside, have linesman lost their natural ability to spot stuff like this since the introduction of VAR? Poor decision.
• Peter: There's an simple solution for VAR offsides. If you can watch one TV replay and see the on-field decision is clearly wrong, you intervene.
• Stephen: That's what you all wanted isn't it? More goals regardless of whether they're actually fair 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 necessity. 2) Attacking football is dead.
• Ben: What are linesman for exactly? Having no VAR is another shambles, who makes these decisions?