Keith Hackett writes…
We once again witnessed the use of VAR in the Premier League over the course of this weekend.
After weeks of suggesting that more needs to e done to keep the spectators informed inside the stadium, a video replay of a dismissal was shown on the big screen at the Southampton vs Leicester City match.
However, the pitch-side monitor that maintains the integrity in the referee’s decision-making process remain unused in the game.
Earlier on Saturday, I had enjoyed watching England beat New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup Semi Final and admired how well Welsh referee Nigel Owens controlled the game.
Rugby use TMS (the VAR equivalent) to perfection. The review process takes place in full gaze of the spectators and players. With the referee viewing the replay on the big screen, we are able to listen in to the conversation between the referee and the TMS.
Nigel Owens’ interrogation of the incident and how he comes to the decision is brilliant. Then he calls the captains over to him and explains the decision.
Surely this must be the aim of the lawmakers in football to implement a similar criteria of operation? Then and only then, we will start to buy in to the process.
Keith Hackett
www.keystoreferee.com
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