Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been a hot topic in the world of soccer since its introduction. With the 2022 World Cup set to use tracking technology inside the ball to help make important calls, the debate on whether VAR is a game-changer or a controversial tool continues to heat up.
Technological Advancements in VAR
Match balls will contain a sensor that collects spatial positioning data in real-time, thanks to a device designed by KINEXON. This sensor, which has been in development and testing for six years, has received full FIFA certification. The technology being used is a “semi-automated offside” program that’s largely run by AI features but retains a vital element of human confirmation. This technology aims to make VAR and programs like offside reviews more accurate and streamlined than ever before.
Improving Refereeing Standards
Howard Webb, the newly-appointed chief refereeing officer at the PGMOL, is tasked with improving the standards of Premier League refereeing and VAR. He aims to improve consistency in VAR decisions and give referees confidence to stick with their decisions. Webb is part of a new leadership group within PGMOL, which includes a VAR coach and coaching director, to improve standards of refereeing.
VAR in the UEFA Champions League
The Final Decision analyzes the application of the Laws of the Game, VAR protocol, and semi-automated offside technology in the UEFA Champions League. The first edition focuses on semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and its permanent presence in the Champions League, as well as how VAR works and its current interpretation by referees. SAOT enhances the flow of the game and consistency of the decision by speeding up the time it takes a VAR to set the offside lines and establishing accuracy and credibility in the decision.
Controversy Surrounding VAR in the Premier League
Despite the advancements in technology and efforts to improve refereeing standards, VAR remains a controversial tool in the Premier League. The article discusses the use of VAR in specific matches, including how VAR protocol led to Manchester United’s second goal and a penalty awarded for a foul by Joe Gomez on Jarrod Bowen. It compares two incidents where penalties were appealed for, one involving Dan Burn and Anthony Gordon and the other involving Joe Gomez and Jarrod Bowen. The controversy surrounding VAR in the Premier League raises questions about its effectiveness and whether it truly benefits the game.