By Cornelius Nasong’o
A Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is a match official who uses video footage to assist the referee during a game. VARs are used in football to help referees make decisions about fouls, offsides, and penalty kicks.
The reviewing proccess by the VAR;
The VAR reviews footage and recommends a review to the referee. The referee can choose to ignore the VAR’s recommendation.
The referee makes the final decision, either based on the VAR’s recommendation or after an on-field review.
The VAR can help the referee to correct the following in a football match;
Fouls: VAR can help referees determine if a foul was committed.
Offsides: VAR can help referees determine if a player was offside.
Penalty kicks: VAR can help referees determine if a foul occurred within the penalty area.
Goals: VAR can help referees determine if the ball crossed the line.
The Premier League introduced VAR in the 2019/20 season after clubs voted unanimously to have the system.
VAR was also used at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Depsite the fact that teams,fans and stakeholders cheered up the introduction of the VAR technology in the world of football,apart from rectifying errors which are beyond the referee’s sight…the technology has sometimes turned to be dreadful by causing clear errors which has led to deafeats among other many teams.
According to a segment of football fans,they think that the technology has ruined the football world due to its delayed decisions and moreso when it turns out with decisions after the match has continued,these fans also are in bitter state where the VAR has been cancelling goals and awarding goals recklessly.
The introduction of the VAR technology in football is quite a good thing and shows advancement,but the officials needs to be keen so that they can’t exergarate the decisions…this may kill the game’s enthusiasm.
Similar Posts by Mt Kenya Times:
- The republic belongs to us: why active citizenship is Kenya’s only antidote to impunity and broken governance
- Optiven CEO George Wachiuri launches mentorship programme cohort
- Ruto pushes Coast transformation with land, development drive
- KTDA celebrates farmers on International Tea Day
- Eng Wangai Ndirangu pushes for Nyeri leather industry
Norman Mwale