It’s a hot topic.
Manchester United will get their first up-front experience of video assistant refereeing when they face Huddersfield in the FA Cup later this month.
David Wagner’s Terriers host United in the fifth-round at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday, 17th February at 5.30pm.
VAR has been the point of heated debate following its English football debut in Brighton’s third-round win over Crystal Palace in January, with sceptics arguing that the time it takes referees to come to a decision after reviewing video footage of contentious incidents could harm the fluency of games in the long-term.
It attracted controversy during Chelsea’s third-round replay win over Norwich City, during which referee Graham Booth booked the Blues winger Willian for diving despite videos confirming that he had been fouled.
📺 VAR will be used during #htafc's @EmiratesFACup Fifth Round game against @ManUtd at the @johnsmithstadia on Saturday 17 February 2018; 5.30pm kick-off. (AT) pic.twitter.com/4en4yXgiQZ
— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) February 8, 2018
Following that game, BBC pundit Alan Shearer branded the system a ‘shambles.’
“You saw VAR work perfectly last night (at Leicester v Fleetwood). You’re seeing why I was very doubtful about it now. It’s a shambles because you’ve got one, two, three, four ex-footballers in here, Jermaine Jenas, five, and we all think that is a clear and obvious penalty and he even books him for diving!”
“Who on earth is looking at that screen at Stockley Park (Premier League studios HQ) and doesn’t think that’s a penalty? Now, that’s why it’s all wrong because it’s somebody else’s opinion and that’s why it’s a shambles.”
Of course, VAR does have its problems. Portuguese side Aves beat Boavista in the Primeira Liga this week, but their second goal appeared to have been scored by a player standing in an offside position. When it went to VAR, a decision could not be reached because of a large supporter’s flag located in front of the camera reviewing the incident. Because of an obscured view, the referee was forced to stick with his original decision.
Should something similar occur when United travel to face Huddersfield, expect there to be uproar. FIFA will decide in March whether to officially endorse VAR as part of the laws of the game.
