The adequacy and competency of current VAR systems and protocols is currently a hot topic in the Premier League. Everton boss Sean Dyche has now aired his views on the matter.
The debate about VAR has heated up since Liverpool’s Luis Diaz goal against Tottenham Hotspur was mistakenly ruled out for offside following a VAR review. After being reduced to nine men due to two dubious red cards, the Reds went on to lose the match.
Sky Sports and the PGMOL have since published audio of the VAR process around the Diaz strike. This audio confirms that an incorrect decision was made as a result of uncertainty over the original on-field decision. It all boiled down to bad communication and incompetence in the end.
Jurgen Klopp has since proposed that the game be replayed. Dyche’s thoughts on the topic have been solicited.
According to the Liverpool Echo, the Everton manager
Coach stated, “I’m a fan of it in the decision-making side of things because I think it’s important in terms of where the game is at now in terms of the business side of the spectacle.”
“It would be unfair for some decisions to go against teams if it cost them the ultimate price of possibly getting relegated or whatever that may be.”
However, he did acknowledge that in its present incarnation, VAR is a flawed system. Dyche continued, “the other side of me, as a fan, just a football fan, obviously I’m aware it slows the game down, it makes it feel different.”
“Sitting there in front of a screen gives you a different view and maybe they almost get too analytical about it, rather than going somewhat with an instinct over what they would normally on the grass without VAR.”
Every club is likely to both benefit and be hurt by a questionable VAR call at some point this season. Most already have been, Everton included. As Dyche recalled, “a kind of nothing incident on a keeper led to a goal of ours being disallowed yet I was down at Forest watching them play Brentford, a player stays on his feet, tries to score a goal and gets nothing although it’s clearly a penalty.”
The truth is that refereeing standards and consistency of VAR implementation in this country must be dramatically improved and immediately. Failure to do so will have a detrimental influence on the competition’s global reputation.
Furthermore, one bad judgment may be disastrous for an undeserving club. Everton, for example, may be demoted as a result of such an error. Dyche may change his mind about his VAR position if this occurs.
The only certainty at this point is that the argument about VAR and refereeing standards will continue at Goodison Park and elsewhere for some time.
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