The summer 2016 VAR launch was greeted with mixed emotions. While some clubs feel worried that the technology may be manipulated to alter choices and outcomes, others believe it would address the long-term issue of video replays.
Still, the advent of technology has some adverse effects, even if it has produced some fantastic results.
Poor mistakes made by teams that have cost them are extremely horrible and obviously irreversibly damaging.
Recently, VAR neglected to check Liverpool’s Luiz Dias’s goal during their weekend game against Tottenham.
Though it was called off for offside, every angle of the goal clearly showed Dias was onside.
PGMOL has acknowledged that it was a mistake. However, that was not the first time VAR had made such a mistake.
Given this, let’s review seven divisive VAR rulings since the technology first emerged in the premier league.
Table of Contents
Rodri’s handball at Goodison Park
In his post-game presser, Everton manager Frank Lampard expressed his evident sentiments, saying, “A three-year-old could tell you that is a penalty”.
Everton was staving off the fear of relegation during a tense encounter with Man City, and only minutes later, the Toffees were pressing for a penalty when Rodri seemed to touch the ball in his penalty area.
Again, VAR failed to find any foul play, hence Everton missed a hard-earned point.
Pickford’s season-ending challenge on Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool has been the target of a seemingly disproportionate amount of terrible VAR judgments.
In this case, the Reds aimed to defend their Premier League title as they started the 2020–2021 season.
Liverpool and Virgil Van Dijk were dealt a very nasty blow during a hotly contested Merseyside Derby when Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford cluttered into the big Dutchman while handling a corner.
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He left Van Dijk crumpled in a heap on the floor with cruciate ligament damage that would rule him out for the rest of the season.
VAR failed to give Liverpool a penalty after failing to win the ball; Jordan Pickford stayed on the field despite his careless challenge and saw the game end all square.
Harry Kane Challenge On Andy Robertson
Beyond the notorious recent fiasco, Liverpool and Spurs’ VAR dispute returns to a breathless clash between the two clubs in December 2021.
Harry Kane should have had an early bath after a studs-up attack on Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, but he apparently walked away somewhat unharmed after receiving merely a yellow card.
Tottenham’s top man came out after the game ended with two goals apiece and said he believed he would have won the ball.
Robertson was later sent off. After the match, Kane may think of himself as a fortunate guy; yet, should Spurs have been down to 10 men, things could have turned to Jürgen Klopp’s advantage.
Fabian Balbuena’s Red Card
Fabian Balbuena received bad advice during an all-London affair between West Ham and Chelsea.
Ben Chilwell was closing in on the Paraguayan defender as he swiftly raised the ball on the field.
The error of the match officials then surely boiled the blood of many a Hammers supporter.
Balbuena slipped after clearing the ball, the ground giving way beneath his planted foot.
His kicking leg clashed with the approaching Ben Chilwell, which the referee and others in the VAR room judged to be an excessive use of force and a risky challenge.
Balbuena was sent out, and the West Londoners were 0-1 losers running out.
The red card was irrespectively revoked, but the damage to West Ham’s equalising chances had already been done.
Arsenal vs Brentford offside Controversy
Thanks to a goal by Leandro Trossard, the Gunners pursuing the championship were leading Thomas Frank’s Bees 1-0 during a game between Arsenal and Brentford at the Emirates in February 2023.
But ten minutes later, Brentford pulled level with Ivan Toney’s somewhat controversial goal.
The VAR referees were more concerned with Christian Norgaard’s absence from an offside position while receiving the ball than his finish.
In command of the game’s technology, Lee Mason concentrated the VAR probe on the incorrect player, Ethan Pinnock, who was judged onside and had the goal wrongly given.
Lee Mason was quietly let go from his post, and Arsenal would suffer two points from a pretty expensive mistake of judgment.
Anthony Gordon’s goal Controversial decisions
Anthony Gordon celebrates Newcastle’s score against Arsenal. The post-match interview by Mikel Arteta captured it exactly.
The Spaniard was not happy after his side’s perfect Premier League run broke down before his sight.
Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United scored the lone goal, but a five-minute VAR probe almost destroyed the Tyneside team.
According to Arsenal’s perspective, there is a probable foul on Gabriel, and the ball creeps beyond the touchline in the build-up.
The visitors naturally feel as if they have been deprived of a result.
A possible offside. All three choices might have gone anyway, but Newcastle went off with all the riches, and the authorities lacked enough proof to rule out Gordon’s strike.
Thus, Arteta’s mouth tasted bitter. BeIN Sports subsequently disclosed whether the ball crossed the line or not.
Alex McCarthy clatters Phil Foden
Travelling up to Manchester City, Southampton and Alex McCarthy had a day to forget in March 2021.
Although Saints would finally turn to the hands of their persistent opponent 5-2, the referee’s inaction when Alex McCarthy hauled Phil Foden down in the area after a harsh touch attracted the attention of reporters and supporters alike far and wide.
VAR checked the situation but was cleared; Man City lost out on an easy penalty.
Of course, it had no negative impact on the scoreline as vintage Pep Guardiola was out in full force and maybe motivated by the controversy, so his squad left no detail overlooked.
Conclusion
VAR, since its introduction in 2016, has undeniably transformed the game of football, promising greater accuracy in decision-making and fairness.
However, as the examples highlighted above illustrate, its implementation has been far from flawless.
From contentious offsides to overlooked fouls and misjudged red cards, the technology has often left players, managers, and fans frustrated, questioning its reliability.
While VAR’s intent to enhance the game is clear, its execution still demands refinement.
Missteps, such as the failure to award Liverpool’s Luis Díaz a legitimate goal or Arsenal’s unjust offside ruling against Brentford, underscore the pressing need for consistency and improved communication among officials.
As football evolves, so too must the systems designed to govern it. For VAR to achieve its full potential, ongoing investment in technology, training for referees, and transparent decision-making processes are essential.
Until then, the debate over VAR will persist, ensuring its role remains as divisive as some of the most controversial decisions in Premier League history.
