August 16 – The new season roll-out of the video assistant referee (VAR) system has been met with criticism in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium after a series of errors. But FIFA is determined to push through the referral system in time for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The VAR system is straightforward: it depends on the referee and the advice of the video official, who benefits from the break in play to review an incident. The field referee is not bound by the video assistant’s opinion. He can also consult the pitchside monitor.
The premise is that technology will help the referee in making correct decisions in match-deciding situations, but as the Confederations Cup last June proved little about the VAR is simple.
In Russia, the application of the VAR was often muddled with lengthy delays, leaving both players and fans confused. The VAR was supposed to end the debate in football, but instead the system fueled, if not doubled, contention. The VAR has also kicked off the new season in Europe, but its introduction hasn’t been smooth.
In Germany, the Bundesliga is running a trial with a central command centre assembled at the DFL’s Cologne Broadcasting Center. The system crashed during the Supercup when Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski allegedly scored from an offside position against Borussia Dortmund. Video referee Tobias Stieler had little to go on and so referee Felix Zwayer decided for the goal to stand. He was proved right by independent television replays.
“From what I have seen so far of the trials it seems to me to end up somewhere between ‘comical’ and ‘unworkable’,” wrote former German national team goalkeeper Uli Stein in German magazine Kicker. “We have seen on television that it’s just not ready. It’s more like theatre than justice.”
In the Netherlands, the Supercup, the curtain raise of the new season, was also marred by a VAR-incident. Referee Danny Makkelie ignored a penalty appeal from Vitesse and opponents Feyenoord took advantage on the counter-attack to double their lead. With ‘natural play’ stopped, Makkelie consulted his video assistant, ruled out Feyenoord’s goal and awarded a penalty to Vitesse.
In a letter the Belgian Pro League, the association of Belgium’s professional clubs, has demanded the dismissal of Yves Marchand, a newly appointed VAR, after he failed to intervene when referee Lawrence Visser didn’t spot a foul on Peter Olayinka in the penalty box during Club Brugge’s match with Zulte-Waregem last Friday.
With controversy never far away, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino may struggle to force through the introduction of the VAR in time for next year’s World Cup. During the Confederations Cup Infantino repeatedly defended the video assistant referee. IFAB, the guardian of the laws of the game, will make the final decision.
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