Time to SCRAP VAR in the Premier League?! 😳 PL teams vote next month 👀 | ESPN FC

The ESPN FC panel reacts to football clubs in the Premier League's takes on scrapping VAR as they are set to vote on the subject next month.
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[@matthewmaayen1088]

The refs in england dont know how to use VAR

[@coilsw6]

Var and the referees difficulty in interpretating an incident stood out again with the referee looking at the James 'kick out' at Brighton. It was farcical seeing him have to look at it over a dozen times before making a decision .... overthinking at it's best.

[@marcobetancourt3733]

Liga MX is worse

[@jaheimsewell4895]

I’m guessing you’re a Madrid fan?

[@35t10b]

True. It could be a great tool, but it's been used poorly in England

[@edjeoranje4865]

Refs in England don't know how to ref

[@Juannyboi-gl7kj]

I just don’t understand how var can work fine in European competitions and international tournaments but in England it’s soo poor

[@Mo-fd9ri]

Corruption

[@gertigoga3912]

Because English refs want too much power. Instead of VAR being the first and final word on things like offsides, red cards, and penalties, English refs want to be the one to decide those things.

[@flickchic238]

Bias, incompetence, result fixing, what else

[@chelseagodfather]

It worked perfectly, with minimal delay and flawlessly in Africa during this year's Nations Cup every time! Simple. But in England it's "difficult to implement". I suspect we know why 😂😂😂

[@chelseagodfather]

@@gertigoga3912 they like influencing games with their whistle. But these same England officials who struggle with VAR in England suddenly are very capable when officiating games in Champions league and at the World Cup. They can't eat their cake and have it too.

[@sheldon_neville_fishing3328]

if var gets removed, then the shitty refs will still be shitty and not be able to be checked on their shittyness

[@nihlify]

It's shitty anyway, so they might as well be shitty with the least amount of hassle, which is WITHOUT VAR.

[@Abdullah-vg1uc]

​@@nihlifyfuck no , because with no var the refs have all the excuse to make mistakes and be corrupt

[@philmusson1265]

​@Abdullah-vg1uc don't you watch football? They do anyway!!! And it ruins the game in the process!!!

[@omarbautista541]

​@@philmusson1265 At least we will have evidence with VAR. Premier League has been outed or the Farmers league that it is and fans are angry to the right reasons

[@philmusson1265]

@@omarbautista541 evidence of what? Don't you watch the games? What more evidence do you need? VAR officials can have all the evidence in the world and still make the wrong decision, because football is subjective and it has a rhythm and flow to it and a bloke in a room somewhere can't feel that, only the referee on the field can, so he should be making the decisions. Right or wrong, you accept the ref's decision and play on. VAR is so much harder to accept when they get it wrong.

[@haitiancreolewithluciano]

VAR is not the problem. Your stupid referees are...

[@russellward4624]

VAR is run by the refs

[@dannytallmage2971]

Yea too many windrush referees has rally lowered the collective IQ.

[@Abdullah-vg1uc]

Exactly, the fact that they still blaming var is crazy

[@tkdanny]

I know this, the rest of the English twats don’t😂

[@cachannel3407]

VAR is not the problem is the people who in the var room

[@moneymase180]

AFCON handled VAR decisions very well, but England cannot make good decisions on VAR. corruption is real.

[@environm3ntalist549]

😂 you didn’t watch AFCON

[@efun8334]

@@environm3ntalist549I did watch AFCON and what he said is 100% correct

[@Judasiscariot6464]

@@environm3ntalist549 they handled well just give CAF their flowers

[@Judasiscariot6464]

@@environm3ntalist549 overall they handled it well, just give CAF their flowers

[@john-olivierlukama1548]

​@@environm3ntalist549he's correct wym?

[@Booking_It]

The nosy policeman analogy was spot on

[@alcapone6733]

Yeah I've had plenty of them nosy pigs bother me for no reason

[@_A7X]

Newcastle was ROBBED today of 2 CLEAR penalties.. VAR tech should NOWHERE be scrapped, that'd be absurd.. They just need to get in competent VARs

[@quattrobajeena8623]

You're having schizophrenic attacks Go take your meds

[@Rain188]

And VAR was blind and didn’t give that OBVIOUS penalty. So what is the point of VAR?

[@chelseagodfather]

@@Rain188 The point is England has a culture of cuddling bad referees and making excuses for them without any adequate punishment if any. With no consequences for poor performance, why should we expect better calls? Rather than blame the refs & VAR officials, they point the finger at the technology. Does the video equipment operate itself?😂

[@Joeeye123]

If you think it's just the EPL refs, you really should watch other leagues to know better.

[@chelseagodfather]

@@Joeeye123 EPL refs are the worst operators of VAR. I watch other leagues and other FIFA competions (WC, ANC, Euros, etc) and there is way less drama than in England.

[@Dabmonger]

I think VAR is just highlighting how poor referees are at making decisions.

[@patsonzgambo9672]

english refs

[@thejamaicandudewith100ksub3]

But VAR is a referee so it’s english refs. Check that incident with Lamptey against Mudryk in Brighton vs Chelsea for example. Why do you think sometimes that you should allow the referee to see the screen and other times you ignore it? Doesn’t make sense.

[@amine15777]

Taking var out is a step backward it , reefreing level that need to improve

[@raphaelcempaka]

Keep VAR but replace all the pgmol

[@_A7X]

Now let's see the mitigating excuses Fans would use to escape losses when VAR is gone

[@MichaelHattem]

They’ll just go back to blaming the refs on the pitch as they did for 100 years before VAR.

[@environm3ntalist549]

@@MichaelHattemexcept refs on the pitch didn’t get blamed as much because people accepted they are human

[@lwandilentaphane5719]

​@@environm3ntalist549 Lies. Refs were even getting death threats

[@philmusson1265]

The same one's they use now? Who cares?

[@JuniorSmith-zw7pd]

@environm3ntalist549 🤣 var was literally introduced because no people did not accept their flaws as human beings and we will NOT go back to those days 😑

[@SimonDelaney-uq2gz]

VAR is not the problem in England it is the officials

[@domenica-xk7xn]

it"s the money

[@_A7X]

Scrapping VAR means scrapping the only way to stop Haaland from breaking goal records in prem 😂

[@AnwarMbolekwa]

Thats jealousy at its best

[@brian_amado]

Gotta love how when it’s a pen not given for a foul against a Manchester United player pundits will say “football is a contact sport and not all contact is a foul,” yet when it would be United that would be on the receiving end it’s clear evidence for why VAR has to go.

[@richardbusinge9494]

Mostly these ESPN pundits have biased opinions towards man u

[@philmusson1265]

This subjectivity is exactly why VAR will never work in football.

[@brian_amado]

@@richardbusinge9494 it’s not just ESPN though. Most British pundits will spout the same drivel.

[@brian_amado]

@@philmusson1265 my problem with VAR isn’t just the subjectivity. It’s the clear and obvious part. Take offsides for example. If we have to break out a tool to measure if a player is offside by mere millimeters he’s not offside. Var should only be used to correct obvious mistakes. If you can’t discern the difference of offside or not with the naked eye it’s not offside.

[@kayodeogidan]

I don't know what Manchester United did to them. They always have a go at them

[@Joswag]

I vote to keep it because it will stop fans from making excuses “we would have won if VAR was still there”

[@angelotroseboom1186]

Seems a reasonable opinion

[@bhumikjoshi4573]

Amount of offside goals would be absurd

[@_A7X]

Absolutely..Now let's see what kind of excuses they'd use to take spotlight off their losses when VAR is gone

[@_A7X]

​@@bhumikjoshi4573Isn't that what you guys want?? When there was no VAR becuz it's PRETTY clear players were netting whole lot of offside goals before VAR

[@bhumikjoshi4573]

@@_A7X nobody wants that. That will favor bigger club even more.

[@sapphir7437]

This League have the cameras, the only 2 things is to fix hand ball in penalty box rule and just a line for offside, its so simple

[@rengachinzah5847]

Craig completely missed the point. The VAR checks for some decisions are fine, the problem is the PGMOL refs can't come to the correct decisions even with VAR. Why keep it in place if you can't get the decisions correct even after checking anyways? At least that's what I think Wolves are implying.

[@bhumikjoshi4573]

Something is better than nothing.

[@rengachinzah5847]

@@bhumikjoshi4573 i know, that's why im also not for removing it. But they seriously need to improve the decision makers, hold them accountable at least.

[@rengachinzah5847]

for example, the Doku kick on Macaliister, the Odegaard handball, the Liverpool offside call, the foul by Onana against Wolves, etc and so much more, the fans at home can see it, why do the so called "trained professionals" dont? do you automatically become blind when you join PGMOL? sorry for the rant lol

[@alexischristou3266]

We all know Craig is a bit special anyway half the time he talks nonsense.

[@nihlify]

@@bhumikjoshi4573 That's not true at all... Everything comes at a cost and I and many others would argue the cost is too high currently for that "something." Grow a brain.

[@greenery8434]

If a machine works but a person doesn’t know how to use it you don’t get rid of the machine you change the person using it.

[@professor7098]

It's a betting scandal you idiots

[@Advent938]

Call the guys from AFCON in Africa. Best Car use no mistakes all the games.

[@rollabearing]

2024/25 Season - "This wouldn't have happened if VAR was still used."

[@anenecalistus]

True and good point. The people in VAR have to know football (good if they've played it) to be able to deliver effectively

[@BobbyMarley718]

Its just too complicated in England other nations dont seem to take 10 mins to make wrong decsions as much as EPL

[@Minnie-CA]

Keep it for offside only. Scrap it for everything else

[@nkosanaroy4993]

Mmm now we’ll concede a billion offside goals

[@Dabmonger]

There has to be semi-automated offside and goal line technology. As for offside, you have to draw the line (literally) somewhere, just like you have a goal line wrt scoring goals. So I don't agree with Craig regarding offsides.

[@arunkdas]

Its the FA’s refs who are ridiculously biased are the reason for so much controversy.

[@shaneawai5015]

Can it be done like cricket. Captains can call for a VAR check with two chances a half. If it is a wrong check you lose one, if not you keep it. There are things being checked that the teams did not see and things not being checked that surprises both sides.

[@betterphysicaltherapy]

The problem is the PGMOL. Not VAR. The vote should be to found a new refereeing body.

[@kayus6223]

All these clubs will cry for VAR again when incompetent referees strikes again and again with obvious decisions missed

[@rackspack]

Shaks statement that VAR is somehow saving teams in title chases or relegation is nonsense. Its cost Liverpool points at Spurs that would have put them top , its cost Forest and kept them in a relegation fight to the end. Its cost teams trying to get European spots. It cost Newcastle just last night when they failed to give the Gordon penalty !! Its just scaremongering to say "oh if we take out VAR it might cost a team the title or their premier league status"

[@therider04]

VAR is fine. PGMOL using it is awful.

[@alexischristou3266]

For the love of god do not remove VAR I seriously do not want to see the premier league back in the dinosaur era while everyone else in europe all top leagues are using it and we just regress backwards because a few teams in the league have thrown there toys out of there pram. I say this is as a Liverpool fan to and i have the biggest issues with VAR officials this season NOT the tech. There is no problem with VAR technology its the dam human beings who implement it wrongly.....that is the only singular issue here. I do not want to see fake pens, offside goals and several other things that players will 100% get away with because it will happen with VAR not looking at it.

[@twosheds2030]

Make it like decision reviews in cricket. The captain can call for a limited number of reviews by VAR each game, say 2-3 for each captain

[@Sonicboom726]

No need to kick var out from the game why not kick out that person who just don't know how to use the useful technology properly

[@Carlos2Dangerous]

VAR should not have a say in judgement calls. It should only be for offsides, handballs, and ball going over the lines for goals or out of bounds. Only for calls that are black and white. Nothing makes me more mad than when they slow down a play and go frame by frame and strip all the context out of the game at full speed just to see a still frame. I’m even against it for cards and fouls, those should only be called by the ref on the field only.

[@tommyschmid5831]

Is it working anywhere? That would surprise me. Certainly not working in Germany. Fans are completly against it now.

[@GOATBryan10]

Thank you Frank, VAR is NOT the problem. It is the people (referees) using the technology who don’t know football like he says.

[@sir_romeo]

For me the idea of drawing thin lines in the order of mm to decide if an attacker was offside or not makes no sense. Are we implying that those mm gave the attacker an unfair advantage in the race towards goal?

[@environm3ntalist549]

Exactly. Offside rules was never meant to be about that.

[@sir_romeo]

@@environm3ntalist549 right! Offsides should be decided by linesmen. If an offside is too small to be seen by eye, then it's not an offside

[@user-ec5bo8tx4n]

Some Premier League club should table this proposal: keep VAR, but ask for Howard Webb's resignation for his incompetence.

[@tywalraven4936]

Webb is the worst. He even ruined a World Cup finalísimo. He, through his incompetence, resigned any role in football.

[@joelhooton2215]

I’m fine with automated offside if they blow it down immediately rather than let the play go on

[@thehacker40_1]

Its like being given a calculator, punching in the wrong numbers to the ones you want, getting the answer you werent expecting and saying fck it, do away with the calculator

[@Creees]

Yessss get rid. So happy we are having this discussion Or if keep there needs to be a limit on not only time for decision but also the amount of cameras used for visual replays. Soon there will be technology in shirts to be able to use for offside.

[@chrismorsbach3872]

If automated offsides is so accurate, then use it and give the attacking player a 3-6” advantage. It’s a simple solution that’s being over thought

[@hewazangana]

6:31 dude without VAR Real Madrids first Goal would have stood. RM lives in their minds rent free.

[@63mckenzie]

The problem with VAR, with the exception of offside, is everything else is subjective.

[@jerrymcallister]

Why do people believe that automated offside is correct?

[@nihlify]

Are you being obtuse? It has nothing to do with it being 100 % correct or not, it has to do with it being a objective and unbiased resource. An automated system can get some rare things wrong, but it won't get it wrong because club A or B are currently playing or are afraid to step on the onfield refs toes to change a decision...

[@mamadousy9632]

YES Technology isn’t the problem but since referees can’t use it Then get rid

[@JuniorSmith-zw7pd]

Don't come back calling for var when your team gets blatantly robbed infront of everyone please remember why var was introduced in the first place

[@tinsaederesse9173]

​@JuniorSmith-zw7pd a camera is not gonna needed if its SO obvious. Otherwise, the referee wasn't competent enough to ref or it was intentional

[@lukelocks9083]

The Trossard doppleganger/lookalike is so close, when I saw him, I first thought when did he retire from Arsenal and in the PL, there's an Iniesta deadringer too.

[@Rain188]

Shak, what are you waffling about price of relegation? Nottingham was robbed from 3 penalties vs Everton. What did VAR do to help there?

[@happylamola6560]

Imagine letting the likes of paul Tierney all that power to rule cz var cant overrule them anymore

[@danielchan3387]

At this point of time, VAR can only prove that they made the wrong decisions but cannot overrule them.

[@sunepba]

VAR should be use only for offside and miscoduct of players where the refree cant see

[@brew9408]

I understand that you want to avoid killing tempo and momentum, but the head referee should be reviewing the monitor more often, especially in pivotal moments...and for fuck's sake, give them multiple angles.

[@kayodeogidan]

Removing VAR takes us back to old school with the cliche "ref didn't see it neither did the other officials". We seem to have forgotten how costly oversight is.

[@mosestsarai8565]

Change PGMOL. The technology is very good, it's the bus drivers (meant no disrespect to bus drivers) in the VAR rooms that needs replacement.

[@EbrahimLPatel]

Give both teams 3 challenges (like tennis and cricket). And only the captain can challenge. That way teams will think hard about whether they truly believe they have been wronged. And only a few incidents will go to VAR.

[@dastan4637]

VAR with AI may work in future

[@Richi-che3ks]

var is good for offsides other than that its the same as before, sometimes they get it right sometimes they don't. that Gordon incident was so clear but they still failed but that cucurella incident it worked great.

[@andrewgotti589]

If that's the case,then obviously it will affect some,and some benefits from it.

[@nihlify]

For me it's the inconsistency that's the biggest problem. Clarify the rules, train your refs and it might work.

[@corporalcrazy88]

The consistency is the main problem and always has been. 100's and 100's of examples where a foul or penalty or red card is given or not given using VAR and then in another game with different VAR and refs and the exact same thing doesnt get given... all fans of all clubs have experienced this. Have to get the rules and facts of what is and what isnt pen, red, foul or whatever and make it the same for every game every week.

[@environm3ntalist549]

Impossible.

[@adeleyemathew2112]

I just feel like the people operating the VAR in rbgland just eant to be in the news tbvh!!!

[@kennywilkinson913]

Pierre Luigi Collina would have over ruled VAR, cant even imagine him running to the screen, what a ref he was

[@SylvanPaul]

This would be wildly stupid if they bosh it. They just need to learn out to use it properly

[@top4football693]

Just use VAR for offside calls and that’s it.

[@evanclp514]

i'd be fine with only automated offside and goal-line technology. the amount of penalties that have been given for absurdly minor infractions or handballs in the box that didn't even affect a play's outcome is obscene. VAR in general is just too slow and way too inconsistent.

[@sharifmontague_music]

it needs to be on a "clear and obvious error" basis. MLS actually does it pretty well: the ref's decision is king, but in clear situations of referee error, VAR steps in. It's been used in reverse in the PL.

[@kornishpasty]

Yeah lets go back to having goals against you when its offside. Fabulous

[@JuniorSmith-zw7pd]

What a set of clowns they'd rather celebrate an offside goal than have it correctly overturned if it ruins their celebrations

[@environm3ntalist549]

Better than having goals given offside for a toenail

[@JuniorSmith-zw7pd]

@@environm3ntalist549 they want var gone not because of that but because it overturned most illegal goals without var all illegal goals not seen by ref for whatever reason(could be paid to not see a blatant penalty) will stand anyone who wants var out should go instead go watch basketball your celebration won't be interrupted

[@Anon-Man.]

The thing with VAR is that is not consistent...

[@richardlefaive1944]

They should be voting on whether to bin the PGMOL.

[@stuartgolby9767]

Everyone knows why VAR doesn't work

[@MikeC77]

The problem is there is a lack of trust in officials. Newcastle clearly had a penalty, everyone could see it in the replay. There is no way the VAR guys couldn't see it either. The scrutiny and technology has made trust drop because they must have known.

[@of_tcm]

AFCON made VAR work. it is not the technology that is the problem, it is the personnel!

[@ermericcarolissen694]

The VAR officials know football. They just don't want to show up their mate on the field.

[@vikast4537]

he said Trossard look alike LOL

[@nanamccoy7463]

It’s the official behind the computers 😂

[@JesseOmezi]

Next time someone scores a goal and they’re clearly offside I hope no one complains

[@pembadorji5445]

Real Madrid: bad officials ❌ paid officials ✅ YEHAHAHAH

[@amazing_sandla]

Var is literally just a screen, how is that the conversation either then the people looking at the screen, watching replays and still making wrong decisions.

[@Stiemey307]

The problem in the Premier League is that Centers and ARs use it as a crutch hoping it will make the call for them. Then, VAR is mostly unlikely to go against the no-call on the field.

[@GiovanniCruz-gw4sh]

The trossard look alike 😂😂😂

[@franknyawanda3240]

The real question is why/how the technology was used almost flawlessly at AFCON, Qatar and in UEFA tournaments but somehow England officials somehow are incapable of using it efficiently?

[@moistpeanut5986]

After they robbed Bayern against RM. Yes they should. There is no point in having var if it will only be used whenever the ref wants.

[@Kevinnn111]

What are you talking about. That type of scenario like in the Bayern-Madrid game would happen a lot more often without VAR. Referees ending plays too early because they thought it was offside wasnt that uncommon until VAR got introduced. That’s why it happening now made it even more outrageous

[@vernonharris1184]

Smh the min they removed it , is the min they will cry for it…

[@MisterGraduation]

"But for VAR, Real Madrid probably wouldn't be in the Champions League final - is THAT too steep a price to pay?" Love me some Shaka

[@vachelwilliams9648]

The only issue is the bigger teams get favoured

[@wawalim5010]

increase the quality of VAR like in champions league/world cup.. and on top of that, put excellent referees behind VAR

[@DJHypro]

These referees use VAR like a doctor using google for he patient

[@cal_9256]

Is it the 3 clubs being relegated or promoted that will be part of the vote?

[@Brainy014]

Minimum Standard should be hawk eye on lines and automated offsides , maybe a more “by the book” VAR penalties is there contact? Yes? Pen

[@PRM862]

The only thing worse than VAR is ESPN FC constantly talking about VAR. I don't think a show goes by that ESPN FC doesn't analyze VAR in some way. It's kind of annoying, to say the least.

[@tafranangullia2288]

VAR takes the accountability away from the ref on the field. Let the ref on the field go to the monitor without whispering in his ears what it should have been.

[@LeeW534]

It’s not the technology that’s ruining the game it’s the people who are using it so poorly that is ruining the experience

[@brandankelly4069]

Do a fan poll and the result would overwhelmingly in favour of scrapping VAR. The fans pay the wages so they should have a say.

[@mueey1]

The problem isn't just var. It's the way it's being implemented. Give 8 seconds then on an offside to draw the lines if it can't be done and looks too tight advantage should go to the striker. Too many decisions going down to how long someone's hair is is ridiculous. 1)Advantage to the attacker on offside. 2) serious foul play incidents reviewed In the background and let play go or let ref see the screen and make judgement even on yellow card incidents 3) any incident not clear and obvious let the on field ref look at it without being funneled Into overturning every decision. 4) activate audio so the fans in the stadium and out can know what's going on. Believe me the world will let the ref know if they've made an obvious error. 5) remove the slow motion , it's not a true representation of the pace of the game. Let ref see it all in real time on pitch and off screen. How hard is it to implement those points?

[@broccolibeater]

i Imagine ITS working better than WE feel IT does. in England ITS worse than abywhere Else.

[@davidburrows499]

Four and a half minutes to decide if a mistake is Clear and Obvious says it all. Ask the fans. Each club takes a poll of season ticket holders etc.

[@jamesonkashika8213]

I think we will have a lot of football funerals without VAR.

[@eduardoleon9693]

Refs in the premier league are so inconsistent even with VAR. I don’t think the technology is an issue but the people using it is the issue.

[@olumideoloyi6880]

VAR is an amazing technology, the people handling the VAR especially in England are the problem. AFCON 2024 made a very good name for VAR because the VAR officials were fast and spot on.