Frustrations with VAR in Premier League Football
In the world of Premier League football, the recent matches involving Burnley and Fulham highlighted growing frustrations with video assistant referees (VAR) among team managers.
Burnley vs. Manchester United
Scott Parker, at the helm of Burnley, expressed his dissatisfaction following a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United. His team had managed to equalize twice during the game, only to see their hopes dashed in stoppage time when a penalty was awarded to United after a VAR review overturned the referee’s initial decision. United’s Amad Diallo had been fouled in the box by Jaidon Anthony, which led referee Sam Barrott to consult the video monitor and ultimately award the spot kick, despite his earlier reluctance.
Parker lamented the increasingly sterile nature of the game due to VAR interference, stating, “It’s going to become the most sterile game there is. We’re probably months or a year away from not celebrating goals.”
He described the anxiety that creeps in with every goal, suggesting that celebrations are overshadowed by the need to consider potential penalties or offside calls, saying, “I feel like there’s a million things go through your mind… We need to get a computer out.”
Fulham vs. Chelsea
Meanwhile, Fulham’s Marco Silva was equally vocal about his discontent after his team lost 2-0 to Chelsea, a match marred by contentious officiating. The opening goal by Fulham’s youth star Josh King was disallowed following a VAR review that determined a foul had occurred in the buildup—a decision that Silva deemed “unbelievable”. He expressed his disbelief not only at the disallowed goal but also at how the officiating impacted the flow of the game, particularly criticizing the referee for excessive stoppage time that allowed Chelsea to capitalize and score.
Silva’s frustrations peaked when Chelsea was awarded a penalty for a handball by Ryan Sessegnon, a decision also influenced by VAR. He noted, “Yes, it’s handball from Sess, but before that moment you can find easy two or three fouls for ourselves,” pointing out inconsistencies in officiating both during the game and in previous matches.
As the tensions continued to rise, Silva humorously recounted moments on the sidelines where his players approached the VAR monitor with laughter due to the subjective nature of the fouls being called. Reflecting on these experiences as both a manager and former player, he expressed a deep sadness for the state of the sport, stating, “For someone that loves football, sometimes when I just watch a game, I feel sad, really.”
Conclusion
The events of the weekend signify an ongoing struggle with VAR in the Premier League, posing questions about its future in the sport as both managers call for change amidst a growing sentiment of dissatisfaction.
