With greater training and knowledge of VAR, everyone would realize that we only utilize it for clear and apparent errors, not subjective calls. We can all go on if everyone agrees on where to draw the line when it comes to a clear and apparent error.
VAR isn’t perfect; it’s a safety net
VAR is a novel concept that is still developing. In one or two seasons of trial, no system can be flawless, and it will take time to develop. There will be controversies throughout, and that is expected. For English Premier League soccer betting enthusiast, the different markets can only get more interesting, with the option to bet on the games at Betway.
Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, the English referees at Euro 2020, will provide input to the Premier League, because, at the end of the day, it’s all about entertainment value. VAR shouldn’t be intervening too much.
‘Big-toe offsides’ are still a possibility.
Unfortunately, it’s not subjective with offside. Either you are or you are not. People may not like it if a big toe is pointing in the wrong direction, but it is a reality.
You don’t want too many opinions, but having an assistant referee who specializes in offsides, someone who can relieve you of the burden, is a great idea. The number of bookings could either go up or down, depending on a variety of scenarios and with Betway you can wager on number of bookings per game, among other markets.
In Euros, VAR is the baseline
The effective use of VAR at the Euros is a fantastic example for everyone to emulate. Take, for example, the penalty awarded to France against Portugal for a foul on Kylian Mbappe by Nelson Semedo. We may use the term ‘soft,’ but it is not incorrect.
Because there is contact in the penalty area, the referee has called a foul. Now, if you look at it on the screen and see that there is no contact, you can say so and turn it over. It’s not wrong if there’s contact. In the case of Raheem Sterling’s penalty against Denmark, VAR was used well.
There was insufficient information to conclude that this was a clear and apparent mistake. Some experts may declare, “No, that’s not a pen,” while others may say, “Yes, there’s enough contact for a penalty.”
The same may be said about Jorginho’s last tackle on Jack Grealish. These are my judgments. VAR will examine if the on-field referee shows a yellow or red card, and I am confident it will back any sanction.
The only time VAR was perhaps misused was during the Croatia-Czech Republic match, when Dejan Lovren was penalized for catching Patrik Schick in the face in the penalty area.
Because there was an arm movement, the referee went to the monitor, but you cannot be certain it was a penalty. Yes, he gets him on the nose, but there is no movement or undue power towards the arm. That is just subjective. The on-field referee is solely responsible for the outcome. I don’t believe there was sufficient evidence to proceed to the review stage.
With the least amount of effort, you may have the greatest influence. Only get involved if you have solid evidence that the situation is incorrect. This is why the Euros have been so successful. There has been virtually little influence in the important decisions made on the pitch. There have been several inspections behind the scenes, but no major interferences have occurred since they have stayed with the referee.
VAR isn’t here to provide perfect accuracy. It was never the case. It was to put an end to the howler. It is only a few weeks to the EPL, and Betway is set to bring all league matches for betting.