VAR will be used during the Copenhagen v Celtic match tomorrow night. It’s the first time that the Bhoys will play with the system in place… and if it wasn’t for the fact that VAR is going to be used in all future Europa League knockout matches, then I’d be happy if it was the last.
Nothing remotely compares to watching Celtic and I’m no fan of the English game, but I do watch a lot of football and often that will include a Premiership match in the pub. We have seen the video assistance system used throughout this season in the English Premier League, and it’s made a mockery of football as far as I’m concerned. As a football fan there is nothing better than that initial moment of euphoria when the ball hits the back of the net. Yet, with VAR chalking off so many goals which don’t even appear contentious, many fans have become hesitant to celebrate fully.
I watched an Aston Villa match earlier this season and a Mings goal was greeted with a cheer similar to when a penalty gets awarded, rather than full blooded joy. This was because Villa fans knew that there may have been a foul in the build up and VAR might spot it. Queue an anxious three minute wait before the goal was confirmed, a cheer then went up, but the moment had gone.
Can you imagine Ntcham’s late winner in Lazio, Vennegoor of Hesselink’s last minute header against Rangers or McAvennie’s goal to seal the Centenary double having to be confirmed by VAR? Knowing that even the most legitimate of looking goals can ultimately be chalked off by discovering a shoelace is ahead of a defenders heel by an inch, such as Olivier Giroud’s disallowed goal for Chelsea against Manchester United on Monday night, fans are robbed of that initial moment of ecstasy.
For me, the crunch question has to be, is getting the right decision more important than the enjoyment of watching or attending football? In my opinion, no. What’s the point in having the right decision if the sport is ruined, the entertainment is killed and the excitement has gone from the game? The ideal situation is obviously to get the right decision and ensure that football remains entertaining and enjoyable. However, where VAR is concerned, I don’t think it is possible to achieve that.
The other point to consider is the fact that VAR often fails to reach the correct decision anyway. On Monday night we saw Harry Maguire’s kick out considered to be fine after video analysis, yet the identical offence by Spurs’ Son earlier this season was deemed a red card by the video assistant referee.
According to a BBC Sport article in September 2019, there were four occasions when VAR reached the incorrect decision in the English Premier League during the previous month.
- Appeals for a penalty from Manchester City for a foul on midfielder David Silva in their 3-1 win at Bournemouth on 25 August should have been given.
- A foul on West Ham striker Sebastien Haller in their win against Norwich City on 31 August should have resulted in a penalty.
- Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans should have been sent off for his foul on Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson on the same day.
- Also on 31 August, a handball by Newcastle United’s Isaac Hayden was missed in the build-up to Fabian Schar’s equaliser against Watford.
I remarked on one comical game myself, on 2 February, when VAR got a number of decisions wrong as far as I, and many others watching the Man City v Spurs game, were concerned:
VAR is a joke.Sterling not sent off for a terrible foul.4 mins are played before VAR gives a penalty.Sterling dives and no penalty is given,but also no 2nd yellow.Wrong decisions, but also 4 mins of open play wasted that then has to be added on.
Hope it never comes to Scotland
— Liam Kelly (@cfcliamk96) February 2, 2020
There’s no doubt that Celtic could have done with VAR in the past when Jorge Cadete’s goal at Ibrox was chalked off, or when John Hartson had his goal versus Rangers disallowed in the League Cup final for offside. However, I like the fact that Celtic’s matches in Scotland are pure in the sense that there aren’t four minute delays for looking at decisions and that when Ajer scored against Aberdeen last weekend, I could jump about like a madman knowing he had won us the game, without wondering if someone in a studio would find some ridiculous reason to rule the goal out.
Let’s hope VAR doesn’t ruin our game tomorrow and that we have plenty of other talking points!
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