Football has been in existence for a long. Football is one of the most populous sporting activities if not the most populous in the world. As football is widely watched by men, women, young, old, white, and black. This article includes the positive effect of Video Assistant referees (VAR) in Football.
Lots have been happening in football on the field of play even without the referee knowing about it. Maybe it is happening behind or in the presence of the referee. On the field (pitch) of play, we have two opposing teams and the referee.
The referee is charged with the duty of controlling all the activities that happen on the field of play (pitch). The referee has a lot of tools that help him/her on coordinating the pitch peacefully without any problem till the end of 90 minutes. Some of these tools are with the referee on the pitch while some are outside the pitch but are connected and give a sign to the referee on the pitch despite being outside the pitch when needed. Also, the referee works with two (2) linesmen on the left and right of the pitch, including the fourth official who is in charge of the line and monitors the substitution for each team.
Some of the tools are the whistle, cards (Yellow and Red), Video Assistant referees (VAR), and Goal Line Technology.
The one to be explained explicitly in this article is the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Below is the positive effect of video assistant referees (VAR) in football.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and the positive effect
This is one of the modern technology tools used in football nowadays. As the name connotes, it is meant to help/assist referees on the field of play (pitch). In the 19’s and early 20’s, there is nothing like Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football. VAR came into existence for the betterment of sporting activities.
VAR is used to check lots of things on the pitch like penalty checking, strong fouls committed on the opposition team, card checking (yellow or red) most especially red card, handball inside the box 18, etc. that all happen on the pitch that the referee doesn’t have a full idea of it. In case of any issues of foul that is not clear to the referee on the pitch, the referee will raise two hands up to point to the VAR tv placed beside the pitch for checking, and the referee will quickly rush down there alone (excluding the linesman, fourth official, and even the players) checking the footage of the video causing havoc on the pitch. The people in the inner room are the ones in charge of re-playing the video to the referee on the screen.
After some time (1 or 2 minutes), the referee will come back to the pitch and give a decision on the issue. In which the referee’s decision is final on the pitch.
Competitions where Video Assistant Referees (VAR) are used
Since the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football, competitions like the Champions League, World Cup, English premier league, Laliga, Bundesliga, Serie A, European cup, African Cup of Nation (AFCON), etc. all have emulated this modern technology (VAR).
In fact, the Confederation of Africa (CAF) has pledged that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used in the whole 52 matches in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition starting on the 9th of January 2022. What a great development by the Confederation of Africa (CAF).
Note:
A decision can be overturned after checking the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
I. e There might be a handball or a serious foul committed in the box and the referee decided not to pick a penalty, but through several complaints from the opposition team or communication from the inner room through the earpiece, the referee is forced to go and check the VAR. After checking the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) the referee might decide to pick a penalty back.
Advantages of Video Assistant Referee.
VAR has been very important and productive in the sense that:
- It gives a clear picture of happenings behind or in the presence of the referee.
- It helps the referee in a quick and accurate decision on the pitch.
- VAR covers the footage of the whole match, the reason why re-checking is possible.
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