Question Number: 32053

Other 11/26/2017

RE: REC Adult

russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

VAR is only as good as the match crew using it?

As with other recent VAR post, the VAR system is only as good as those who use it well - if at all.

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/1103678531995/Were-Wanderers-denied-a-legitimate-penalty?cx_navSource=related-side-cx#cxrecs_s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF3L9dDfYwc&t=33m30s
Another A-League example - so why was the VAR not used in this incident.

These types of incidents are going to be the problem with the use (or non use) of VAR.

Unlike the Lukaku incident in the overnight EPL match, where it did have direct effect on the players involved n the 'Play', (yet was clearly foul play) this incident was very much a movement based on the ball.

BTW, Lukaku may well be sanctions retrospectively.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
I suspect if this was formally reviewed every single corner and free kick would have to be reviewed. There is a tug / pull on the White attacker by the Red defender and White gets to the ball with a header. It is nothing that we do not see on every single contested ball in the penalty area.
Now there is what is called a *silent check* and the referee appears to motion to his earpiece that he is in communication by preventing the goal kick from being taken. He asks for the kick to be retaken. Perhaps the VAR was looking at the incident at this time and agreed with the onfield decision.
If the system starts formally reviewing all these we can forget about using technology as it will end up with review after review
The Lukaku one is case in point. I watched the game live and this went totally unnoticed by everyone including the TV channel. It then gets attention because someone looking at the video of the goal for editing purposes spotted this incident. The Brighton defender does not seem to have been affected and certainly it had no impact on the goal other than if the AR had flagged it the goal would be disallowed.
I am a supporter of introduction of technology yet I believe it should only be used to review key decisions in the game, not refereeing by video. There is real danger that if this trend continues that every single incident in the penalty area will have to be reviewed and checked.