Time to ditch VAR: “It’s spoiling the game,” Brendan Rodgers

Brendan is right, we would be better off without VAR…

Brendan Rodgers yesterday spoke of his frustration with the much maligned VAR. No doubt his thoughts were brought on by the ridiculous red card shown to Daizen Maeda, and his critics will no doubt say it’s a case of sour grapes, but it’s a feeling that has been bubbling under the surface for a quite a while.

Brendan like the majority of the footballing world, whether that be players, coaches or supporters, are all growing tired of the technology, or at least the way the technology is being used by VAR officials. It really has disrupted the game we love and is even on its way to destroying it.

Referee Ivan Kruzliak shows a red card to Daizen Maeda of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and Celtic FC at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on November 07, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

VAR was brought in to aid officials and end controversial calls in the game. But if anything it’s made it much worse. Even with the new fangled technology it’s still as controversial as ever and this goes well beyond Celtic games, it appears to be across the board.

It’s done nothing to aid the game and has become a hindrance. Some say it’s not VAR that’s the problem, more that it’s the same incompetent under fire officials who are now calling the shots behind the new technology, and they would have a very valid point.

Every single player, coach, pundit and supporter say the same thing. Whether that’s in Scotland, England, Germany, Australia or Brazil it’s universally loathed.

Photo by Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock 

Talking as a supporter it’s very frustrating. You can’t even celebrate your team scoring now without a nagging doubt about the legitimacy of the goal. The euphoria of your side scoring a goal is one of the best feelings in life. That is now being taken away form us.

Even if the goal is eventually given after a VAR check the celebrations are nowhere near the same at any game you see that happening.

It’s killing the beautiful game. It’s time for VAR to go in the bin, and I’m sure the overwhelming majority of football supporters agree with that sentiment.

Here’s what Brendan had to say about it yesterday, a week after not wanting to talk to The Celtic Star about VAR failing to intervene for that block on Kyogo in the St Mirren game, just days after VAR did get involved at Ibrox to award theRangers a penalty lifeline in the 85th minute of a game they were losing.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

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