VAR: A Premier League Tragedy

The VAR technology has tarnished the biggest soccer league in the world

by Brendan Smith, Sports O’Clock Writing Team Member

(photo credits: Daily Mail)

During Saturday’s match between Crystal Palace and Leeds United, Leeds striker Patrick Bamford appeared to score a goal with a beautiful finish that would have drawn the match level. Initial replays showed that Bamford was clearly onside, having timed his run to near perfection alongside Palace’s defenders. However, the video assistant referee (VAR) deemed Bamford to be offside because his forearm was outstretched beyond Palace’s last defender. The decision was condemned by both Leeds and Palace, while Bamford stated “It’s ruining football” after being asked about VAR following the conclusion of the match.

VAR has reared its ugly head on more than one occasion in the Premier League. Liverpool were denied a late winner from forward Sadio Mane against Everton on October 17th due to a phantom offside call, Newcastle United were awarded a penalty after Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier was called for handball on September 27th, and Manchester United were given a penalty after full time against Brighton & Hove Albion in the second week of the season due to another controversial handball decision.

Backlash against VAR has been severe. Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has said “We’ve lost the plot” with regards to the league’s reliance on a flawed system, while Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson called the Bamford decision “quite cruel”. Leeds United have vowed to write to the Premier League regarding the Bamford decision to get an official explanation.

The usage of VAR by the Premier League is an embarrassment to soccer. Not only does it disrupt the flow of the game, but it micromanages the performance of referees to the point where they have little control over how the rules are applied. Line judges are encouraged not to raise the flag for offsides to allow VAR to make corrections, and every goal is reviewed from multiple angles to catch any violations that the referee or line judges may have missed.

Most importantly, few players or managers understand exactly how VAR is applied or what it enforces. The Premier League now defines a handball as contact on the ball with the section of the arm “below the armpit”, but little justification has been applied on what constitutes intentional or accidental handball or what an arm in a natural position looks like. Offsides are been reviewed using line technology by VAR, but the lines have left confusion over what part of the body being beyond the last defender signifies offside. After seeing the offside call on Bamford, it is clear the Premier League is still struggling with making correct offside calls.

Prior to the implementation of VAR in the Premier League, referee controversies occurred but they were not frequent. VAR seems to be the source of controversy every matchday. There must be a point in time where the Premier League has to admit the flaws in VAR and either revamp it completely or remove it from use. It is clearly tarnishing the game and the Premier League’s clubs, managers, and players deserve better.

(All photos are cited properly. No copyright infringement intended.)