Does Arsenal controversy highlight the real problem with VAR?

But could a small adjustment make VAR a lot better? In the heightened atmosphere during the post incident decision making process of a VAR verdict, and also after a match when such decisions have altered results, it is easy to forget that VAR is still relatively new in football and may need adjustments to make it more effective and more sporting. One of those adjustments which could be easily, promptly and fairly introduced would be to drop the phase of play video scrutiny that accompanies many VAR examinations during the current decision making process.

The problem with VAR phase of play reviews Looking at the time spent reaching conclusions, particularly about disallowed goals and penalties, we can see that the trawling back through phases of play in order to find previously unnoticed infringements is one of the main causes of frustration for everyone involved. These problems affect the whole atmosphere and flow of a game, frustrating fans, players, managers and referees themselves, lowering faith not only in VAR decisions but in the refereeing process itself. This often leads to people attributing match results to VAR decisions, as was the case in Arsenal’s one nil away win against Brighton .

These lengthy replay examinations based on finding what might have happened before an incident are not always necessary and are causing problems so significant that many now believe VAR should be abandoned altogether. The game could be returned to something closer to what it was before VAR simply by dropping the phase of play requirement that allows unnoticed incidents to be reviewed during the decision process. Others have proposed that VAR should review incidents in real time rather than slow motion, both speeding up decisions and avoiding the exaggeration of minor contact that can look far worse when slowed down.

Many fans do not understand why VAR decisions take so long. The reason appears to be that officials are checking every tackle and off the ball incident during the phase of play before the moment being reviewed, which can feel like an attempt to find reasons to disallow goals rather than support referees. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) How VAR could still improve football VAR was introduced to assist on field officials.