VAR is still hotly contested, vilified and flawed, but a quick glimpse at life without it underlined its importance.
Leeds VS Arsenal on Sunday was suspended for 40 minutes due to a malfunction stopping the referees communicating with VAR.
Naturally, all the takes were coming out. Just play it like the old days, we don’t need it. Let the refs on the pitch handle the game. If only there was some other way the assistants could communicate with the referee. Some kind of flag perhaps. IF ONLY.
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When the game eventually resumed, what followed was the perfect demonstration of why some form of VAR is needed.
Had the game been officiated without video replays, Arsenal would have wrongly lost the game. Firstly, the on pitch refs would have missed the foul in the build up to Patrick Bamford’s disallowed goal at the start of the second half, which would have evened the score at 1 – 1.
In an eventful game, Bamford went on to miss a penalty as Leeds put Arsenal under pressure. The game became increasingly hectic and saved the biggest drama for right at the end.
In the 89th minute, Gabriel gave away a penalty and got sent off for appearing to retaliate against a Patrick Bamford shove.
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After a lengthy review, the penalty and red card were rescinded because the replay showed Bamford shoving Gabriel prior to the defender falling and sticking out his leg.
In this case, the video referees saved Arsenal at least two dropped points and a suspension for Gabriel. It means they are now four points clear at the top of the league, their momentous start to the season preserved.
You won’t find many Arsenal fans arguing that things were better in the past anymore.
