I like VAR
By Unknown author - El Gráfico, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81945817
It's been almost 40 years since Diego Maradona scored against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter finals with his hand. The goal - dubbed Hand of God - is one of the most iconic goals in football.
When I think about the discussion about VAR (Video Assistant Referee) and how many fans are passionately opposed to it, I can't help but to think this goal. It shouldn't come as surprise that the fandom that idolises a goal scored with hand are opposed to technology that would have prevented the goal.
VAR was introduced into football rules in 2018 and has been a heated topic of discussion in probably every game it has been used in.
Some of the arguments have very valid points: mainly that it breaks the flow of the game. In football, the game only really ever stops for injuries on field. Other than those, it flows back and forth and there aren't long periods of waiting.
Another argument that on surface level sounds good is that VAR — no matter if the goal is allowed or disallowed — kills the excitement: a celebration of a goal is stopped with sometimes lengthy wait while the referee on the field has a discussion with the video referees.
As a fan of the sport however, I can't with good faith say that I'd take those things over getting the calls correct. Of course, there's a lot that could be done to improve the situation (like ways to shorten the time it takes to make that decision) but I wouldn't want to go back to pre-VAR times.
Think about the Hand of God. Think about Frank Lampard's beautiful goal against Germany in 2010 World Cup that went in but wasn't allowed. That goal would have been a 2-2 equaliser right before half-time but instead, Germany went on to win the match 4-1 and advance to the quarter-finals.
In a quarter-final game of Women's EURO this year, France was denied two goals against England as offsides called by VAR — after being awarded a penalty shot themselves (and a red card to a German) thanks to VAR. Had any of these three moments gone past, the game would have likely been very different in outcome.
It's really difficult for me to take a position where I think those things shouldn't have been ruled as they were.
VAR isn't perfect but I take a correct ruling over an incorrect one any day of the week.