Analyzing the Impact of VAR on Controversial Soccer Moments

Image by Source

For years, pundits, ex-professional players, fans, coaches, you name it, they all favored the introduction of video assistant referees to soccer. The number of unfair decisions, despite the existence of the technology to fix them, was deemed simply unacceptable, almost criminal.

Fast-forward a few years and the landscape has changed entirely. Almost a complete 180, with many fans and experts alike frustrated. Twitter/X is good for a barrage of insults toward VAR officials after almost every call, and many complain that it’s taken the joy out of celebrating goals.

But it all comes down to this: does VAR improve the rate of correct calls? Let’s explore the impact of this game-changing technology on soccer by taking a deep dive into some of the most controversial moments of the beautiful game.

Kane’s 1-1 vs. the Netherlands

We all know the rules when it comes to penalties and cards. Or do we? In England’s match against the Netherlands in the Euros, the confusion reached fever pitch.

Xavi Simons scored an absolute blunder to put the Dutch up 1-0 in the semifinal, with Southgate’s men looking shell-shocked. Until VAR got them back in the game following a ‘foul’ in the penalty box by Dumfries on Kane.

When the collision first occurred, no one thought anything of it. Yet referrer Felix Zwayer was called to the pitchside monitor, promptly pointing to the spot. Dutch boss Ronald Koeman was understandably left frustrated.

But perhaps more surprising is that Gary Neville and his ITV colleagues, all England supporters, also agreed it was never a penalty. In a recent interview, Kyle Walker admitted that he would have been raging had it been called against England.

No matter what you think of the individual decision, should the referee have been called in the first place? On paper, he’s only meant to be challenged on clear errors. Was this one of them?

VAR and PGMOL’s Apologies

The Premier League in England has perhaps experienced the most controversy with VAR last season. We’ve seen many situations where VAR didn’t come out looking fantastic, and it’s Brighton that has been particularly aggrieved.

The club has received as many as three apologies in the post from PGMOL (the refereeing body). In a match against Tottenham, Brighton should have had a penalty. Yet VAR did not intervene, despite the error looking obvious.

These errors have major implications. If De Zerbi’s men had won the match, they would have moved up to sixth. With the Premier League being worth as much as it is, these points are crucial for the smaller clubs.

Is an apology enough? Chris Sutton said Brighton was “robbed”. Defender Lewis Dunk wondered why it’s there in the first place if it’s not going to step in for major decisions.

The Other Side: France vs. Republic of Ireland, 2009

We’ve given you examples where VAR hasn’t done its job. But when it was down to just the referee, big mistakes were made on the regular. If you’re Irish, the date is enough to tell you what this is about.

To many, it’s the moment when the wheels started turning in favor of VAR’s introduction to the game. The setting: 2009 playoff between the French and the Irish, both vying for a place in the 2010 World Cup, in extra time.

It’s the 103rd minute and France has a free kick. Malouda’s free-kick looks harmless, until Thierry Henry uses his hand to control it in the box, crossing the ball for Gallas to score. Had VAR been a thing in 2009, the goal would have been disallowed and Ireland may have gone to the World Cup.

It’s a major ‘if’ that still gets Irish blood boiling one of the most controversial moments that could have been easily prevented with VAR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has VAR improved the accuracy of refereeing decisions in soccer?

VAR was introduced to minimize incorrect decisions and improve fairness in soccer. While it has undoubtedly led to more accurate calls, it’s also created new controversies, such as inconsistencies in when and how it is used. The key question remains whether the benefits of increased accuracy outweigh the added delays and disputes.

Why does VAR still cause controversy if it is supposed to correct clear errors?

Despite being designed to correct obvious mistakes, VAR often ends up in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The main issue lies in its subjective application—what constitutes a “clear and obvious error” can vary from one referee to another.

Additionally, the process can disrupt the flow of the game, leaving fans unsure of when to celebrate or protest a decision. This ambiguity, as well as the human error, continues to fuel controversy, even with VAR in play.

Conclusion

VAR or no VAR, incorrect decisions continue to be made in football. Does VAR deserve a chance to fine-tune its process, or is it time to go back to the previous refereeing era?

Ultimately, even with VAR, you’re relying on humans to make the decisions. And that will inevitably lead to error, it’s part and parcel of being, well, a person.

The referees sitting far away in the VAR boxes will undoubtedly analyze situations to the best of their abilities (on the whole, anyway!), but biases will always lead to decisions that can be interpreted in another way. So, it must then be asked: is it worth adding even more controversy to the equation with VAR, even if statistically more correct calls are being made?