Consign This Useless ‘Experiment’ To The Bin. Consider the last seven days from a neutral fan’s perspective. Against Bournemouth West Ham had a chance on goal, Fullkrug’s header hitting a grateful goalkeeper instead of 1 metre either side and he;’d have scored. Suddenly VAR flash up on the screen they’re “investigating” a handball. The softest, tiniest defection was spotted and therefore immediately rolled over and granted (a very grateful) West Ham Penalty that should never have been.
Under a week later and the ‘most dreadful challenge of the season contender’ right in front of the referee drew a yellow card. No ‘flashing up’ on the screen of any investigation of foul play, not the slightest chance that the referee would be invited to reconsider.
Consign This Useless ‘Experiment’ To The Bin
Skysports.com have kindly created a video Which you can view here in case you didn’t see it. It gets worse each time it is viewed. If that is not a red card, nothing is. It could have ended Max Kilman’s playing career.
Former referee Mark Halsey said at the time :” I’m Very surprised Var didn’t recommend a review this was a challenge that endangered the player’s safety with excessive force imo”. Just about every pundit today condemns VAR for their second cock-up involving West Ham in less than seven days.
What is the point in this not-fit-for-purpose system if it adds nothing to the quality of on-field decision making?
There isn’t one. It ruins the spectacle and proves conclusively that mistakes will always be a part of the game, whether on-field or on-video.
So just do away with it and at least the on-field decision will be final and we can celebrate, or barrack knowing there’ll be no overturning decisions and the frustrating VAR pantomime has been consigned to the bin as a failed experiment.
