The Big Discussion: What do you think of VAR

VAR: What is it good for?

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has been a controversial addition to football matches since its introduction in the UK. 

Those in favour of the technology believe that VAR has helped ensure fair play by reviewing crucial decisions like goals, penalties, and red card incidents. It was essentially brought in to reduce human error and increase the accuracy of refereeing decisions.

However, critics often point out the disruptions caused by VAR reviews. They say this slows down the pace of the game and diminishes the spontaneity and emotional intensity of football. Many fans and players have expressed frustration with VAR's impact on the flow of matches and the subjective nature of some decisions.

What is the debate focused on? 

The debate has now been going on for four years. Back in 2020, then SkySports pundit Danny Murphy argued against it. The footage below is from the SkySports YouTube account.

It has become an integral part of modern football in the UK and continues to evolve as leagues and officials work to refine its implementation. The debate around VAR's role across in the Premier League and beyond is likely to persist as football authorities strive to strike a balance between fairness and maintaining the excitement of an end to end football march.

Liam, a Manchester United fan, said: "I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but I'm completely fed up with discussing the same issues with VAR every week. When VAR wasn't in use, I don't recall dissecting every decision in such detail. Occasionally there would be a blatant mistake from a referee or linesman. However, VAR is now a more prominent topic of discussion than the actual matches themselves. 

"Referees always seem really hesitant to make decisions, yet we can't rely on VAR to consistently make the correct calls either! Can we please focus on the actual game instead?"