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Should VAR be used in football? Should VAR be used in football?
Yes. VAR is a net positive to the game Yes. VAR is a net positive to the game
No. VAR has made football worse No. VAR has made football worse
Yes, but something needs to change Yes, but something needs to change
VAR makes the game fairer VAR makes the game fairer
VAR will reduce cheating and fouling VAR will reduce cheating and fouling
VAR can create a more attacking game VAR can create a more attacking game
Normal referees make too many mistakes Normal referees make too many mistakes
Goal-line technology in football was a great success Goal-line technology in football was a great success
VAR should lead to less complaining VAR should lead to less complaining
Fans can no longer celebrate goals in the same way Fans can no longer celebrate goals in the same way
Mistakes are part of the game Mistakes are part of the game
VAR kills the passion of the game VAR kills the passion of the game
VAR takes too long VAR takes too long
Football is too free-flowing for VAR Football is too free-flowing for VAR
VAR can't review everything VAR can't review everything
VAR could be fixed if it allowed for the 'benefit of the doubt' VAR could be fixed if it allowed for the 'benefit of the doubt'
VAR is being deliberately sabotaged in England VAR is being deliberately sabotaged in England
Video review has been a success in other sports Video review has been a success in other sports
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Should VAR be used in football?
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No. VAR has made football worse

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Fans can no longer celebrate goals in the same way

Every decision is now subject to doubt as many goals are ruled out by VAR. VAR has made the experience worse for football's most important group: the matchgoing fan.
Sami Khedira
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The Argument

A part of the excitement of watching football is celebrating over a beloved team’s goals. With VAR, however, goals are often subject to doubt. Fans feel cautioned against celebrating too early in case a goal is ruled out. Rather than celebrating a player’s goal, fans must wait in anticipation on a referee’s decision. The waiting and uncertainty are focused on a referee’s decision rather than a player’s goal—and football should be centered on player’s goal. Football is an emotional game, and fans deserve to share the emotion from a goal immediately alongside the players. Waiting for a referee’s decision lengthens the time between a goal and fans’ celebrationl—ruining the atmosphere. For example, Andy Heaton, a Liverpool fan, reported that the length of time it takes for a referee to decide on a goal ruins the fan experience of celebrating a goal. He stated, “I think VAR takes away the spontaneity of the game. The waiting around for the referee, waiting for a decision, it kills the atmosphere…Goal-line technology is great, it works and you get an instant answer. But VAR feels subjective. The fact there are still arguments over the penalty in the PSG-United game over whether it was right or wrong kind of points to that." [1]

Counter arguments

To let fans participate in the decision process as well, VAR should be broadcasted on the big screen rather than on pitchside monitors.[2] If football is just as much for the fans as it is for the players, the fans can still be involved in celebration alongside the referee’s decision-making, without having to get rid of VAR.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Football is just as much for fans as it is for players. [P2] VAR ruins the drama and atmosphere for the fans celebrating goals.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] VAR adds a new and interesting layer of drama for the fans.[3]

References

  1. https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/08/football/var-manchester-united-psg-champions-league-spt-intl/index.html
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/oct/31/var-premier-league-changes-needed-introducing-travesties
  3. https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/08/football/var-manchester-united-psg-champions-league-spt-intl/index.html
This page was last edited on Saturday, 20 Jun 2020 at 09:31 UTC

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