Arsenal might gain an advantage from a significant VAR decision, but there are still concerns about the referees’ methods.
Wolves have proposed eliminating the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) for the 2024/25 season, with all 20 Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, set to vote on the matter at an Annual General Meeting in June. Refereeing has faced ongoing criticism for mistakes throughout the season.
Wolves argue that VAR negatively impacts the fan experience, citing premature celebrations, confusion from lengthy checks, and protests leading to the booing of the Premier League anthem. According to Dale Johnson of ESPN, Wolves have the worst net score of VAR decisions over five seasons at -17, while Arsenal are second bottom at -7, suggesting they would benefit from the removal of VAR.
Arsenal have faced several contentious VAR calls, including a significant error in their 1-1 draw with Brentford last season, where official Lee Mason failed to draw the lines for an equalizer that shouldn’t have counted. An independent panel also deemed Gabriel Martinelli’s disallowed goal at Old Trafford a mistake.
In a recent title-deciding match between Tottenham and Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne was ruled onside for Erling Haaland’s goal without drawing lines, raising further questions about the decision.
While VAR was introduced to help officials make correct decisions, scrapping it may lead to more errors that VAR currently catches. The technology isn’t the issue, but rather its implementation. The standard of officiating, already under scrutiny before VAR, remains a problem. The same officials managing the software continue to make errors, suggesting the need for better training and stricter accountability.
Investing in improving officiating quality, expanding the pool of officials, and ensuring VAR operations are conducted by a third party rather than PGMOL officials could enhance decision-making. Adjusting the thresholds for VAR intervention to support on-field decisions more effectively is also necessary.
In conclusion, removing VAR is unlikely to solve the problem and may result in more incorrect decisions. Improving officiating standards and refining VAR usage is a more effective solution.