World Soccer - UK (2020-02)

VAR: from the subliminal to the ridiculous

Paul

GARDNER

GLOBAL VIEW

against a pro-goal decision. And that

weight increases when an already pro-

defence video ref makes his judgment.

The problem becomes serious

because that caveat about “serious

and obvious errors” is completely

ignored if a goal has been scored. That

is a special case and VAR is allowed

to look at the build-up – looking,

obviously, for one thing only: a reason

to cancel the goal. It may be a minimal

handball or a slight push, but the most

frequently found offence is offside.

Usually these offside calls are

A young Jimmy Greaves once made

the observation that football was

getting more complicated. That

was back in the 1960s and he was

commenting, unfavourably, on the

licensed coaches who were bringing

a new and highly technical approach

to the English game.

The quote survives in different

forms, of which my favourite version

goes like this: “The way those guys talk,

you’d think scoring a goal is more

difficult than splitting the atom.”

Now, here we are in 2020, and VAR

has plunged us back 60 years, back

into the impossibly complicated world

of atomic physics – which is a world

where football does not belong.

There can be no arguing against the

birth of VAR. Technology, advancing by

leaps and bounds, gave us TV replays,

then iPads and mobile phones, until

any refereeing error was immediately

exposed to the whole world. Except,

of course, to the one man who really

mattered: the referee himself.

So technology gave us VAR with the

admirable intention of clearing up that

mess, of allowing a quick video-review

and, if necessary, a reversal of the

referee’s call. So far, so good.

Even better was the vital caution

that FIFA added to its VAR Protocol:

that VAR should be used only to

correct “clear and obvious” errors and

“serious missed” incidents. That caveat

was vital to make sure VAR was not

repeatedly brought into action to

review all manner of referee calls.

But a major problem has developed.

Throughout their 150-year life,

football’s rules have maintained

a staunchly pro-defence attitude.

Scoring goals has been made difficult,

as it should be, but now absurdly so.

We all know that to score a goal all

of the ball must pass over all of the

goal line. No half measures here. In

disputed calls, the odds are heavily

in favour of a “no goal” decision.

VAR can now be called on for

supporting evidence. Which ought

to mean a clear, objective, unbiased

call. Forget it. The rules are weighted

Overruled...a

familiar sight

Unpopular...many

fans dislike VAR

THE WORLD THIS MONTH