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Should VAR be used in football? Should VAR be used in football?
Yes. VAR is a net positive to the game Yes. VAR is a net positive to the game
No. VAR has made football worse No. VAR has made football worse
Yes, but something needs to change Yes, but something needs to change
VAR makes the game fairer VAR makes the game fairer
VAR will reduce cheating and fouling VAR will reduce cheating and fouling
VAR can create a more attacking game VAR can create a more attacking game
Normal referees make too many mistakes Normal referees make too many mistakes
Goal-line technology in football was a great success Goal-line technology in football was a great success
VAR should lead to less complaining VAR should lead to less complaining
Fans can no longer celebrate goals in the same way Fans can no longer celebrate goals in the same way
Mistakes are part of the game Mistakes are part of the game
VAR kills the passion of the game VAR kills the passion of the game
VAR takes too long VAR takes too long
Football is too free-flowing for VAR Football is too free-flowing for VAR
VAR can't review everything VAR can't review everything
VAR could be fixed if it allowed for the 'benefit of the doubt' VAR could be fixed if it allowed for the 'benefit of the doubt'
VAR is being deliberately sabotaged in England VAR is being deliberately sabotaged in England
Video review has been a success in other sports Video review has been a success in other sports
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Should VAR be used in football?
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Yes, but something needs to change

< (3 of 3)

Video review has been a success in other sports

The TMO in rugby brought no such controversy to the game and has been widely embraced. This shows that similar success in football is possible.
Alan Pearey
< (3 of 3)

Context

VAR stands for Video assistance referee and is a new way technology is used to help football referees on the field when they make decisions. They are mainly used for determining goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards or mistaken identity incidents. The video footage helps the referee to take a decision after viewing the video material. Anyhow, the use of VAR is controversially discussed as it could potentially underpin the role of the referee on the field.

The Argument

VAR should be used in football on a general basis as it has proven to be an effective tool not only in football but also in other sports like rugby. TMO which stands for Television match official is the person that supervises the video-based technology called Hawk-eye that is used similarly to VAR to help referees make more informed decisions since 1995. In rugby, the use of TMO is limited to the scoring of a try and to assess possible foul play. Overall, this method is said to be a success for rugby as its use follows clearer rules than it is the case with VAR in football at the moment. The first difference is, that the video evidence is overseen by a second person (the TMO) other than the referee on the pitch which balances out the initial bias of the referee. The TMO is only used in the case where the referee deems it necessary to reach a conclusive decision to prevent unnecessary interruptions that alter the flow of the game. Such a narrower use of VAR would make its use more efficient and less controversial. VAR should learn from the advances in rugby made since 1995 to improve itself.

Counter arguments

The situations that are assessed by the video assistants in rugby and football are too different to be compared to each other. Consequently, VAR should be reformed and regulated in a way that suits the sport of football and its specialties rather than copying what has shown to be effective for rugby.

Proponents

Framing

The example of the success of TMO in rugby should serve as an example to football and the use of VAR.

Premises

Situations are comparable and solutions to them are transposable.

Rejecting the premises

Situations cannot be compared to each other and thus solutions have to be unique and aren’t transposable.

References

This page was last edited on Wednesday, 17 Jun 2020 at 14:08 UTC

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