The Great VAR Debate: To...

Is football better off without the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system?

This weekend, Premier League fans, managers, and players got a glimpse of football without VAR during the FA Cup fourth round. However, the experience highlighted several issues.

For both this season and the previous FA Cup edition, VAR has not been utilized until the fifth round, prompting many fans to anticipate a return to uninterrupted football.

After a season filled with controversy, delayed rulings, and confusion surrounding VAR, its presence has come under scrutiny, with numerous voices claiming the game might be better off without it.

In light of a weekend plagued by lengthy delays and frustrated managers, former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy expressed on BBC Match of the Day: “For the sake of the game, VAR should be removed.

“It’s negatively affecting the excitement of matches due to the lengthy process involved in decision-making.

“Would you prefer more accurate decisions or a smoother, more spontaneous football experience?”

The weekend brought the debate back into focus, with several contentious decisions—including allowed offside goals and a missed blatant penalty—shaking the foundations of the VAR discussion.

‘A better spectacle’ versus ‘more accurate decisions’

The arguments against VAR are well-known.

Fans often cite long wait times for decisions, celebration interruptions, confusion over marginal calls, and the perceived loss of referees’ autonomy as significant drawbacks.

Notably, Newcastle’s eyebrow-raising 3-1 victory over Aston Villa this weekend highlighted the pros and cons of VAR. Tammy Abraham’s first goal was clearly offside, while Villa’s Lucas Digne avoided a penalty for handball and could have easily received a red card for a reckless tackle.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe reflected: “I’m conflicted because the game feels more thrilling and enjoyable without VAR. Yet, it ensures accurate decisions. Those moments are invaluable, especially today when we benefited from them.”

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery firmly stated, “VAR is essential. It serves to assist referees.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s 3-0 win against Brighton also sparked controversy, as a 17-year-old substitute had a legitimate goal wrongly disallowed for offside, and Brighton was incensed over a penalty awarded to Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot shared: “Generally, I prefer football without VAR because scoring feels immediate. I only support VAR for clear-cut situations—not for those gray areas, like the foul on Salah.”

Man City manager Pep Guardiola expressed uncertainty, stating, “Sometimes I think VAR improves fairness in the game, but I really don’t know what the right answer is.’

Are officials too dependent on VAR?

For some, the conclusion is straightforward: rather than relying on VAR to correct wrong calls, officials should simply make the right judgments.

In a discussion on Match of the Day Live regarding the errors at Villa Park, ex-Newcastle striker Alan Shearer remarked, “No. I expect officials to perform their duties properly. Isn’t that a reasonable expectation?”

He added, “The mistakes made this weekend illustrate the detrimental effect VAR has had on referees, who seem paralyzed without it.”

Former Newcastle and Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given echoed these sentiments on Match of the Day: “These incidents reveal why VAR exists. Many decisions at Villa Park were wrong, and VAR acts as a safety net for referees.”

Concerns have been raised about the growing reliance on VAR. Howe expressed some understanding of this view, suggesting, “There’s a case to be made. With VAR present, referees may think, ‘I don’t need to make that call because VAR will review it.’ This could lead to slower decision-making.”

However, former referee Graham Scott disagreed, stating on the Wayne Rooney Show, “It’s not fair to suggest that officials hide behind VAR. They are trained to make decisions, just as they always have been. VAR provides a degree of comfort by eliminating the risks of making significant mistakes.”

‘Much better without’ vs. ‘a shambles’—What do you think?

Against VAR:

James: Football without VAR feels authentic. After years of frustrating experiences, it’s disheartening to see fans discouraged from celebrating goals due to officials often focusing on disallowing them.

VAR could be the reason I give up my season ticket, and if West Ham gets relegated, not having VAR might be a silver lining.

Frank: I once supported VAR, but this weekend proved enjoyable without it. The continual errors and interruptions weaken its purpose.

Alan: Football is far better [without VAR]. It’s ruined the experience. Thankfully, I now support non-league football, where human errors are part of the game.

Stephen: It’s significantly better without VAR. Waiting for clear, obvious rulings detracts from the excitement. It’s time for referees to take charge again.

Mike: I prefer it without VAR, even though City got a potentially bad call. Knowing immediately whether something is a goal is far more enjoyable. VAR kills the moment.

Les: The game flows better without VAR. Officials are meant to make decisions, and VAR often leads to incorrect calls, making it pointless. Judging offsides based on minute margins is ridiculous.

For VAR:

Bonnie: As a supporter of both Villa and VAR, I believe VAR deserves credit for accurate decisions.

Roger: That was egregiously offside—have linesmen lost their judgment since VAR’s introduction? Newcastle’s defensive line clearly indicates that strikers are likely to be offside.

Peter: There’s a straightforward solution for VAR offsides: if a replay reveals an obvious on-field error, intervene.

Stephen: Isn’t this what everyone wanted? More goals, regardless of their fairness?

Liga: VAR should only be employed for clear offsides. Not for those negligible millimetre differences.

Callum: This season has underscored two points: 1) VAR is essential. 2) Brave, high-pressure attacking football is waning.

Ben: What exactly is the role of linesmen now? Abolishing VAR leads to chaos; who makes these crucial decisions?

The Great VAR Debate: To…