OPINION: VAR needs to be thoroughly reviewed

When VAR was introduced to the Premier League, everyone knew it would be a work in progress. Like the NFL in the United States, “instant replay” can be a very useful tool used to correct mistakes made on the field by officials.

However, after this much time, the Premier League system still remains a work in progress. This past weekend is a clear example of how the current system lacks consistency, and is causing more damage to the game than it is being helpful.

Examples:  On Saturday, both Newcastle United and West Ham United were denied goals after very unusual VAR decisions made back at Premier League HQ.  Then on Sunday, Arsenal had a goal cancelled when Martin Odegaard was called for a very soft foul that occurred in the goal’s build-up. None of these scenarios seemed to have met the standard for referee Paul Tierney’s initial call on the pitch to be overturned. Not one of these three examples met the criteria for “clear and obvious errors.

Mikel Arteta told Arsenal.com following the match,  “I haven’t seen the action, but what I said is that it was a soft foul, so it’s just the consistency of the soft foul on Bukayo Saka from Tyrone Mings on the penalty last week, but it’s not a penalty. The soft foul on Aaron Ramsdale when we conceded against Villa is a goal, so it’s just consistency and there’s nothing we can do now because it’s too late just to be consistent.

Today, we have heard the referees’ organization, the PGMOL, has agreed that two of those decisions were wrong, and they will plan a review of these reversed calls with the Premier League. This was reported by the BBC.

Awesome, that’s great, but how does that help the clubs impacted by these poor decisions? It doesn’t.

Where is the consistency? Yet, they seem to spend so much time stopping matches to analyze razor thin offsides calls. VAR will spend minutes adding dotted lines and magnifying techniques to see if a player’s nose hair is offside.

Here’s another thing that drives me nuts. In the NFL, the head referee announces what the call was, and why the call was or wasn’t reversed. At least there is some accountability there. Couldn’t this be added to the English football game? All it takes is a few seconds and a wireless microphone on the referee.

Yes, VAR should be removed from the Premier League, until it is thoroughly reviewed, rebuilt and redesigned to be more accurate and consistent. Otherwise,  just let the referee on the field make the call, and stick with it. That system seemed to have worked for years and years.

Would the Gabriel Martinelli goal have made a difference in the outcome of yesterday’s defeat at Old Trafford? Unfortunately, we will never know.

COYG!

Gunner1953