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The VAR was introduced in the Bundesliga five years ago. Despite all the shortcomings – it’s good that it exists.
Congratulations, VAR! Completely without irony, good that you exist! In the billion-dollar business of professional football in Germany, technology has been allowing a second look at situations that decide on promotions and relegations, on profit or bankruptcy, for five years. It is clear that numerous wrong decisions have already been corrected and injustice is avoided. In principle, there is no dispute about the benefits.
Various reasons for the bad image
If the VAR were a child, we would indulgently blow out five candles on his 5th birthday and accept the mistakes. In fact, the project is more like a car that broke down too often five years after its market launch.
The causes of system failures and the bad image are manifold. Too many mistakes still happen, in front of an audience of millions in the final of the European Championship at Wembley Stadium or in everyday Bundesliga life on a hot evening in Freiburg.
A lack of transparency creates a lack of understanding
In addition, the system is still a kind of black box. There is a lack of transparency and this creates a lack of understanding. For viewers on the screens and above all in the stadiums, it must be clear what is being checked and the reasons for the decision. Disclosing communications would help.
And last but not least: It often simply takes too long for decisions to be made. Football is a game that just doesn’t do well with interruptions. By the way, that’s the difference american football. In the NFL it’s not a problem when the referees check during one of the numerous breaks in the game and then calmly inform the stadium about their decision via their microphone. Speed and accuracy have to work together.
Semi-automatic offside detection is an important, next evolutionary step. From today’s perspective, the Video Assistant Referee started five years ago too early and immaturely.
Abolition cannot therefore be an option. The improvements outweigh the side effects. Happy birthday, VAR – and get better!