Soccer's VAR Controversies: Are We Losing the Human Element?
Soccer's VAR Controversies: Are We Losing the Human E...
By Arslan Saleem August 08, 2024 03:36
There has been much debate among fans, players, and officials about introducing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in football. VAR was introduced to reduce critical errors by match officials and make football fairer, but its introduction could have been smoother. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of VAR in soccer, various aspects surrounding its implementation, and much more.
Positive Aspects of VAR
Improved Decisions Accuracy
It was only put in place to fix the most obvious on-field errors, which, for decades, have decided matches. A review of 804 matches from leagues scheduled to trial VARs this season found that the use of video was associated with an improvement in accuracy on key decisions (93% pre-VAR v 98.9%). This improved decision-making is especially important in high-stakes games, where mistakes can cost you dearly.
The system was introduced to correct clear mistakes such as goals, penalties, and red cards. Take, for example, the 2010 World Cup play-off qualifier between France and Ireland. Thierry Henry's handball led to one of most infamous 'refereeing' incidents in recent history, sparking an international controversy. If VAR had been there, the goal could have been disallowed.
Support for Referees
VAR acts as a fail-safe for referees on the pitch by giving them more confidence in making decisions, knowing there's a technology that can overturn big mistakes. These efforts could take some of the heat off referees, who otherwise might be under increased scrutiny for game-changing errors.
Negative Aspects of VAR
Disruption of Game Flow
The most frequent critique of VAR is that it can slow down the innate flow of play. At the other end of that spectrum, having stoppages for reviews all over the place sucks momentum and fun out of live play. Then you get fans who will grump during long delays and create less of an interesting match experience. However, one of the key ways in which scoring goals is different has taken a hit, with celebrations largely subdued until an eventual decision.
Subjectivity and Controversy
It could not eliminate the human error element, either. The on-field referee will take the final call, and he or she may accept or disapprove the suggestion made by VAR. This subjectivity can result in disputes and prolonged debates about decision-making, reflected in numerous controversial scenarios across high-profile matches that VAR decisions are made within.
Erosion of the Human Element
This technological reliance has put the almost-human element of soccer under scrutiny. The step-by-step translation of some binary code can sometimes make you forget that officiating is still very much about feelings and instincts, even if plenty of people are loathed to admit it. Referees are trained to decide on the spur of the moment merely based upon their vision, and with VAR being introduced, that can hamper their instinct, which would decrease their trust value.
Arguments For and Against VAR
Arguments For VAR
Advocates claim that VAR ensures a glaring error does not unfairly impact matches. It is designed to narrow down incorrect decisions and increase the probability of getting the right team ahead, not by mistake but through accurate officiating only.
Also, pro VAR backers argue that technology is here to stay and part of modern sports. VAR is a logical step in developing officiating technologies like goal-line tech.
Arguments Against VAR
A crowd says that it disrupts the organic flow in-game and dampens jubilant overreactions. The lack of clarity over decisions also leads to less jubilant scenes inside stadiums, with supporters often waiting for the VAR check before celebrating a goal.
VAR has meant added scrutiny of referees, who can also feel obligated to keep up with the expectations of their VAR team. Over time, this creates an environment where they question their judgment and may even become afraid to make bold decisions.
The Way VAR Could Be Improved/Implemented
To fix the issues with VAR, there are several possible solutions and improvements:
Improved Communication: Better communication between the referee on the field and the VAR team will help clarify judgments and speed up decisions. A system of real-time feedback to referees without extensive stoppages could keep the game moving.
In-Depth Guidelines and Training: When it comes to VAR, the guidelines need to be extremely detailed, certifying that referees understand how a particular call should be ruled. For example, a standardized protocol for reviewing one type of incident overall matches.
VAR Interventions: VAR interventions could be limited to only the most impactful decisions (e.g., goals, penalties, and red cards), which would help reduce stoppages and keep the pace of play intact. This would maintain the spontaneity and excitement of football but eliminate mistakes like these.
The initial impact of VAR has brought a scaled change to football officiating, both for the right and wrong reasons. The system has helped correct what some call game-determining decisions more accurately and aimed to improve the justice in that decision but provoked much controversy over the flow of the game due to accountability and also criticized for reducing the human element from officiating. However, as the debate around VAR rages on, governing bodies are responsible for considering those complaints and looking at ways to enhance VAR. Hence, it eliminates problems like this without removing what makes football exciting. At the same time, technology should be maintained in harmony with it; otherwise, football may just as well lose out on its beauty.
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