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The Premier League's latest figures make interesting reading. Its review panel rated 88% of key on-field decisions correct, with that figure rising to 99% after VAR interventions. Those numbers, published on November 4, suggest the technology is making a significant difference.
I'm happy to acknowledge that. Getting important decisions right matters, especially when a penalty, red card or disallowed goal can change the outcome of a match.
But here's where I think the conversation gets more complicated. A 99% accuracy figure doesn't tell us whether a particular decision was correct. Supporters want to understand why a penalty was awarded, why another was rejected and what the referee actually saw in the replay.
There's also the question of time. Nobody wants to celebrate a goal and then stand around waiting several minutes to discover whether it counts. Football is supposed to be an emotional experience, not an appointment with a courtroom.
I'd rather see VAR make fewer interruptions while providing clearer explanations when major decisions are reviewed. Accuracy matters, but so does the experience of watching the game.
Would you accept the stoppages if VAR gets almost every major decision right, or do you think football has sacrificed too much of its natural flow in the process?
I'm happy to acknowledge that. Getting important decisions right matters, especially when a penalty, red card or disallowed goal can change the outcome of a match.
But here's where I think the conversation gets more complicated. A 99% accuracy figure doesn't tell us whether a particular decision was correct. Supporters want to understand why a penalty was awarded, why another was rejected and what the referee actually saw in the replay.
There's also the question of time. Nobody wants to celebrate a goal and then stand around waiting several minutes to discover whether it counts. Football is supposed to be an emotional experience, not an appointment with a courtroom.
I'd rather see VAR make fewer interruptions while providing clearer explanations when major decisions are reviewed. Accuracy matters, but so does the experience of watching the game.
Would you accept the stoppages if VAR gets almost every major decision right, or do you think football has sacrificed too much of its natural flow in the process?
