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VAR Reduced Referee Mistakes By 85% Last Season

VAR Reduced Referee Mistakes By 85% Last Season

The controversial assistant referee system will be at the World Cup but the Premier League won't be introducing it next season.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

VAR seems to cause controversy wherever it goes and FIFA will be hoping that it doesn't cause too much in Russia this summer, however in Italy it's certainly been helping as it's reduced mistakes by a long way.

If VAR had existed at previous World Cups then Nigel de Jong would certainly have been sent off in the final in 2010 against Spain when he kicked Xabi Alonso in the chest and was only booked.

On the flip side of course if technology had existed in 1966 then maybe England wouldn't have won the World Cup final in 1966, after all the ball almost certainly didn't cross the line.

Nigel de Jong with the karate kick. Image: PA Images
Nigel de Jong with the karate kick. Image: PA Images

This summer FIFA will introduce VAR to the tournament and we just hope there isn't too much controversy to the system.

Not everyone is on board with it of course, especially in England where there's definitely been some teething problems during the test games.

Some countries though embraced it quicker, or at least decided to give it a go before the Premier League, and in Italy it's had a good affect.

According to Calciomercato referee mistakes have been reduced by 85% because of the Video Assistant Referee with 117 decisions being changed because of the technology.

The referee checks VAR during Inter vs Bologna. Image: PA Images
The referee checks VAR during Inter vs Bologna. Image: PA Images

It'll be an interesting argument to those who are against VAR. Of course those against the system are usually in that position because they believe that it slows the game down too much, which can be the case.

The Premier League voted against introducing the system next season, instead deciding to wait to see how it improves in the next year.

There will no doubt be another vote for it next year to decide if it'll be introduced in 2019/20. Last season FA Cup and EFL Cup games were used as a trial run.

In 2010's World Cup Frank Lampard was denied a perfectly good goal against Germany when the ball clearly crossed the line. That decision changed FIFA's mind on goal line technology.

Later that same day Argentina were given a goal against Mexico that was clearly offside with the in stadium screens showing the ref that he'd got the decision wrong but he couldn't overturn it.

What do you think about VAR?

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Topics: Football News, Referees, Serie A, World Cup, Italy, VAR

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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@Sidler28