The state of VAR in the Premier League was summarized during the Everton vs. Aston Villa on Sunday, with both sets of fans singing in unison after a disallowed goal.
When talks were taking place about the introduction of VAR in the English top flight, one of the main gray areas was how it would affect fans attending the match.
This season has reached new levels of silliness, with both halves of games regularly exceeding the 50-minute mark due to not only added time, but often due to lengthy checks.
On Sunday, Everton hosted Villa in the first round of matches split over two weekends during the winter break, and left-back Alex Moreno found the back of the net early on for the visitors.
Moreno’s goal does not stand up after VAR control! ?
Bailey is offside in the buildup…? pic.twitter.com/r6nOmPnTZU
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 14, 2024
Moreno’s goal came in the 18th minute, with the Spaniard shooting brilliantly after a well-worked corner play.
But VAR Paul Tierney, who would have guessed? – and referee David Coote – surprise, surprise – presided over a four-minute delay to check for offside in the build-up.
Finally, with the scoreboard showing 22 minutes, the goal was disallowed and Leon Bailey was found to be offside in the build-up.
Why it took so long to decide that is a mystery, with much of Tierney’s attention focused on whether Clement Lenglet was blocking Jordan Pickford, but he let Everton and Villa fans make their feelings clear.
“VAR is fucking shit,” was the chant that echoed around Goodison Park immediately after the decision.
That was a sentiment shared by fans of several clubs, including Liverpool, who took to social media to react.
What a mess VAR is. It took them forever when you can clearly see that Bailey is offside.
Then they drew lines of wrong parts of the body and quickly erased them.
Clowns. pic.twitter.com/OvqLv4X3qi
—Walid Arsenal?? (@1Walid1) January 14, 2024
I saw there was a VAR check going on, so I thought it would be a great time to walk the dog. They were still looking at it after we came back…. A little far-fetched but, I mean, really? So bored with that.
– Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 14, 2024
VAR is shit, pass it and get rid of it. Nobody can tell me what has improved our game. total garbage
– Curtis Woodhouse (@curtiswoodhous8) January 14, 2024
How many minutes for this goal?… Turn off the VAR, damn it. Sucking the life out of the game
– Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) January 14, 2024
This VAR is killing football!!
– Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) January 14, 2024
Something very strange happened in that VAR control. If Bailey is offside and the lines showed it, why the extra two minutes to check if Lenglet is interfering with Pickford’s vision? Has no sense. #avfc
– Villa Views (@VillaViews_) January 14, 2024
The VAR looks for any excuse not to give the goal. He wasn’t brought in for that.
– Steve Moore (@moorey71) January 14, 2024
A full 5 minute VAR check and the commentators don’t even know why the goal was disallowed
Standard weekend
– HM (@HinduMonkey) January 14, 2024
I’m sorry but VAR is ruining this beautiful game. I know City fans will be happy that Villa’s goal was disallowed after a four-minute delay, but that’s just another example of the emotion being taken out of the game.
– Ian Cheeseman (@IanCheeseman) January 14, 2024
The time it takes for VAR to take a look at things is ruining football.
I want the right decision to be made, but if it takes more than four minutes to check for offside, then it should be thrown away. #avfc | #utv | #vtid
– Aston Villa Statto (@AVFCStatto) January 14, 2024
Every time I watch a Premier League match I thank God I don’t have to deal with VAR in the Championship. It’s killing the sport.
– Rob (@SaintRob__) January 14, 2024
The VAR is a real joke. These referees have no idea.
— . (@utdcynical) January 14, 2024
At this rate, there is very little chance of VAR falling out of use in the Premier League, such is how firmly it is embedded in the sport around the world.
But if this is here to stay, the level of officials in charge of technology must improve significantly.
How often can the names Tierney, Coote, Hooper, etc. appear? without being mentioned?
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