We are aware that the inclusion of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has changed the dynamics of World Football in recent times. In this blog, you will get to know everything that you need to know about the procedure involved in implementing the technology, how it came into use and how it is affecting the global football scenario. However, before digging deep into the details, let us get a clear idea of the purpose of VAR in the present context.
In simple terms, the video assistant referee (VAR) is a match official in football who is in charge of ensuring that decisions made by the on-field referee and linesmen are fair and accurate. As per the game’s laws, designed by the International Football Association Board, VAR is defined as having the purpose of ‘minimal interference and maximum benefit.’ According to the rule book, VAR technology seeks to ‘provide a way for clear and obvious errors and serious missed incidents to be corrected’.
VAR was introduced in professional football in 2018. The purpose of bringing this system into operation is to minimize obvious human errors through technology. Since its inclusion in the broader scheme of things, VAR has played an influential role not just in Football but has also indirectly affected the fantasy football sector including platforms like Vision11 and the overall online football gaming industry.
Let us now take a look at the step-by-step procedure of how VAR works in professional football.
Step 1: VAR has four reviewable categories – Goals, Penalty decisions, Direct Red cards, and Mistaken identity while displaying a card. When any incident under these categories occurs, the VAR recommends to the field officials that the decision should be reviewed.
Step 2: The on-field referee heads to a monitor placed on the sidelines to check the recorded footage of the disputed incident. If he feels there is room for doubt, he sticks to his original doubt. However, if there is any conclusive footage that convinces him to change the decision, then he does accordingly. This only happens if the VAR advises the referee on the headset to take a look at the footage by pausing the play.
Step 3: After reviewing the video footage on the side of the field of play, the referee takes the appropriate action. Whatever decision is taken by the referee after reviewing the footage, it is deemed to be final and the players have no option but to accept it. The referee takes a call if the goal is valid or not, whether a penalty should be awarded or not, and if a particular offense is worthy of a red card or not.
Now that we know how VAR works, let us take a look at some of the notable success stories of VAR over the years since its implementation. The use of VAR was officially approved at the 2018 FIFA World Cup it is the first tournament, where it was implemented during all matches at all venues. During the tournament, 335 incidents were checked by the VAR and it had a success rate of 99.3%. At a group stage match between France and Australia in the 2018 World Cup, VAR was used for the first time to make a decision when referee Andres Cunha awarded a penalty to France.
VAR is now widely used in all top professional leagues and tournaments including the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Premier League, La Liga, and all other similar top-tier competitions. However, it is not free from criticism. It has often been accused of “creating as much confusion as clarity”. Some critics have pointed out that there has been an increase in the number and duration of pauses during matches since the implementation of VAR. Moreover, VAR has also been accused of being ‘inconsistent’ in decision-making.
VAR has also affected the online football gaming sector. Fantasy Football platforms like Vision11, which launches several contests based on leagues around the world, have had to adopt a swift scoring system to adjust to the frequent changes caused due to VAR so that correct points are awarded to the users. Overall, VAR has changed the dynamics of the football and online football gaming industry.
Despite all the criticism, one must appreciate the use of VAR in an effective way. There is no doubt that technology has helped officials in reducing errors and made the game even fairer for all. FIFA themselves have officially stated: “Our mission is to spread football globally and one of the primary goals of Vision 2020-2023 is to leverage technology in the development of the game and improvement of the football experience.” Therefore, it’s obvious that not V.A.R.’s further technological implementations like the ‘Goal-Line Technology’ will also be used widely shortly.
Now you understand that how VAR is changing the world of football so here you can also check out Top-most benefits of playing online Fantasy Cricket Games on Vision11