Publications
Partners
There have been many changes and different interpretations of the Laws of the Game over the years. Some good but many, in my opinion, not so good.
One of those changes was the introduction of the video assistant referee (VAR).
It was going to be a “game changer” in the eyes of football aficionados.
READ: Hanging Judge | Refereeing standards falling and VAR has become a joke
A system that would confirm once and for all that the referee had made the correct decision. However, it hasn’t always worked out that way.
In fact, it appeared to cause more argument and concern among football lovers, particularly fans, but also among team owners and managers/coaches.
That appears to be the case where the Swedish Football Association (FA) have bowed to “fan power” and become the first country to reject VAR.
The Scandinavian country’s football association has had a change of heart after the majority of its clubs and regional associations voted against the use of technology, even in European games.
The president of the Swedish FA said only last year that “VAR was our future”, but now it seems he’s had a change of heart and said he respected the majority opinion.
This move reflects Swedish clubs having at least 51% fan ownership, and VAR has been very unpopular with supporters for some time.
The Swedish FA president Fredrik Reinfeldt, who is a former prime minister of Sweden, told the daily newspaper Aftonbladet:
So, what now? Will other countries follow suit? Will more fans put pressure on their respective FA’s to follow Sweden’s lead?
Has VAR been that bad? Is it at “death’s door”?
In principle, I could see the merits of the system and one mustn’t blame VAR. It’s only a mechanism whereby the match officials, in this case the referee, because he/she has the final say according to Law 5.
Referees and VAR operators are there to assist him.
Many referees, in my opinion, were relying on VAR to make the decision for them.
READ: Hanging Judge | When is a goal not a goal – not as straight as a ruler?
They don’t have to accept the VAR decision but when have you seen them go against it? It will be interesting over the next weeks and months to see if other FA’s will follow suit.
Check out my Monday review show at 9pm SA time. It’s on facebook.com/hangingjudgeref
