VAR has caused many headlines and headaches in its short time in English football. The technology is being used in the FA cup as well as the Carabao cup, and has shown some growing pains along the way, squiggly lines etc. etc.
With the suspicion surrounding the introduciton of the technology, president of UEFA Aleksander Ceferin has confirmed that Video Assist Referee (VAR) will not be used in the Champions League next season:
I think that it will be probably used at the World Cup. We will not use it from the next season in the Champions League. I can tell you that. But I’m absolutely not against it. I think there’s no way back anymore. But we have to educate the referees properly.
Ceferin wasn't wholly against the introduction but argued that the technology needed to iron out all it's kinks before it would be considered for Europe's premier club competition:
Nobody exactly knows how it works, which might be a big problem. So, let’s see what happens at the World Cup and then we will decide.
We shouldn’t rush into decisions that are not clear. For me, I see a lot of confusion from time to time. But that doesn’t mean that I’m against it or that I don’t think it will happen.
An Ifab report last month said that the VAR system has been accurate in 98.9% of decisions so far during its two-year worldwide trial.
President of FIFA Gianni Infantino recently spoke out in support of VAR and it's use in the World Cup:
If we, or I, can do something to make sure that the World Cup is not decided by a referee's mistakes, then I think it's our duty to do it.
The reaction to the news has been predictably mixed, some have been applauding the news while others plead for more understanding for such a monumental change to the game:
Confusion can be sorted. Speed can be sorted. Yes they should have been sorted before implementation. BUT I can't think of one decision that VAR has actually got wrong? Therefore, surely just for that reason, its a good thing?
— Marc Burrows (@Marc_Burrows) February 26, 2018
So they can make it work in every other sport but not football ?
— Jack (@littlejack593) February 26, 2018
Football needs change.
— ㅅㅁㅅ (@sdVUNwm1egsWnb6) February 26, 2018
I agree VAR is causing lots of confusion. But if the authorities properly prepared and trained the panels it would bo so much better
— Nigel Robson (@robboluvsqpr) February 26, 2018
It might work well in the right hands, rare problems in NFL, Rugby League/Union, Cricket with video refs!
— ToucanChew (@ToucanChew) February 26, 2018
