VAR – Various Actions Required …………  not ‘Fit for Purpose’

I look back to my time as a Football Official and I like other referees would have loved to have had VAR to get us out of trouble, just like it should, but not like now where it appears more trouble than it’s worth.

Every week we see another controversy and unnecessary talking point.

I fondly remember a chilly January afternoon at the turn of the Millennium, with a packed St James Park anticipating the 4th Round FA Cup game against the Blades.

I don’t however like to recall TB the former WHU pundit on MOTD, who quite rightly that night ridiculed an awful decision by the AR, when I ruled out a perfectly good goal by the blades.

If it wasn’t for the TV footage, I would have bet my mortgage on the fact that I got the decision right. Fortunately, it didn’t affect the result, a deserved 4-1 win for the Toon Army. Check it out;https://youtu.be/PcR_XXMVVyQ

All officials in my time maintained that a bad offside was far better than a bad goal especially as this type of decision was more likely to be soon forgotten. Something though, that VAR should now be able to eliminate with ease.

Surely, what we are seeking, is that if goals are scored, they should be awarded, unless of course its blatantly offside.

Offside decisions should in my opinion, be reviewed quickly at normal speed to access if the decision is clearly incorrect, not that a hand, elbow or even arm or a big toe is beyond the last defender.

Just a quick second chance to review, is all that is required. There were no second chances in my day.

I am yet to hear from anyone that feels goals should be chalked off for marginal decisions, even if you lose. ‘What goes around, comes around’.

VAR was rightly introduced for goal line technology and for getting big decisions right, or for the referee to ask VAR to get him out of the s**t. Let’s be clear, officials usually know when they may well have got it wrong, they feel it, their six sense kicks in, either that or the players or crowd, let them know that they have ‘cocked up’ big style, a quick ‘check that for me’ is what’s required.

Rugby appears to have a better take on technology, the ref asks the TMO, to check out what he wants, for instance when a try is scored, ‘did he ground’, ‘was it a forward pass’, not like VAR poking its nose in, on almost every aspect of the game and where it’s not really wanted or necessary.

I look back to SJP and would have welcomed VAR, albeit my anecdote wouldn’t be quite the same as I wouldn’t have got a mention on MOTD, which is what most officials would like.

Putting right ‘clangers’ in seconds, is what it is needed, not for protracted reviews that might be right to the millimetre but clearly not in the spirit of the game we all love.