Premier League Clubs Vote Against Introduction Of VAR Next Season

VAR (video assistant referee) is a contentious issue among football supporters.

There are concerns that it slows the game down, removes the human element of refereeing, and even that the computerised system is flawed in and of itself.

While any possible improvement to the game is welcomed, particularly at a time where technology has vastly grown but football laws are still too ambiguous, it has seemed as though VAR has acted more as a hindrance than a help, often adding dubiety where it should add clarity.

It's why the Premier League has now decided against implementing its usage for the 2018/19 season, postponing its introduction.

20 top-flight teams met today to vote on a ballot whether VAR should be used for next year. They have decided that further video testing be carried out to ensure that its implementation causes no controversy in the English league.

The trouble is that VAR slows the game down and this is problematic for supporters who enjoy the current tempo, and, with it being VAR being an option than mandatory, referees have tended to overuse it over what seems like clear decisions.

Critics have said that referees, on occasion, have even made the incorrect upon reviewing the footage over.

VAR has been brought in to help referees, whose decisions are often polarising enough.

VAR in action. Image: PA

Just take this week's Michael Oliver and Gianluigi Buffon saga in the Champions League, matter in which requires a level of disengagement with emotions and instead offer cold, hard fact: it was a foul, penalty and red card or it wasn't.

This is precisely where VAR could work, but, instead, there have been a number of high-profile incidents relating to VAR and how its damaging football.

Take Manchester United's F.A Cup win over Huddersfield Town in the last 16.

The VAR lines on-screen used to highlight an off-side decision looked jaded and uneven.

It will be good news for most, but it will still leave us with the same uncertainty in football laws.

Words: Jacque Talbot

Topics: Football News, Football, Premier League, VAR

Jacque Talbot

Jacque Talbot is a journalist and sports writer at SPORTbible. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan with a BA in English and Film. He is a football, snooker, and basketball enthusiast and has been published in the Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Set Pieces, Planet Football and the Morning Star. He’s the greatest thing to come out of Essex since Nick Frost.

@Jac_Talbot