REFEREES CHIEF MIKE Riley accepts VAR has missed four errors in the Premier League this season but promised officials are “constantly learning”.
The new technology was introduced at the start of the 2019-20 campaign to mixed response, intervening on six occasions across the first four match weeks after 227 reviews.
Much of the focus has been on incidents where VAR has not had an input, however, and Riley, manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), acknowledged four mistakes in a meeting with the Premier League on Thursday.
He told Sky Sports: “We’re learning as we go along and we’re constantly improving as we go along.
“Undoubtedly, out of the four match rounds, there have been some really good examples where we have intervened. We’ve had six instances where the VAR has advised the referee and we’ve got a better decision as a result.
“What we’ve talked about are the four instances where the VAR didn’t intervene and, had we done, we would have had a better understanding of the role VAR plays in the game.”
Explaining the errors, he continued: “They’re all about the judgement of the VAR and the process we adopt and then discussing those with the clubs, with the players, with the managers to make sure these really are examples where the VAR could have had a benefit and intervened and helped the referee on the day.
“It’s a combination of factors. That’s the fascinating thing as this project evolves. We’re constantly learning as we do things.
“On occasion, it was a judgement decision the VAR made, on one, it was a process mistake, and on others, it was trying to protect the high bar we want to not disrupt the flow of the game.
“On these two occasions, actually, the judgement should have been that the high bar had been crossed, it was a clear and obvious error and the VAR could have advised the referee of that.”
It is reported the four incidents Riley flagged up in the meeting were Jefferson Lerma’s challenge on David Silva, Youri Tielemans’ apparent stamp on Callum Wilson, Fabian Schar’s goal for Newcastle United against Watford and Tom Trybull’s trip on Sebastien Haller.
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So its wrong 2% of the time. As oppose to the 17% before. Worth it.
The reluctance to flag for offside because of VAR is annoying too. Joel Matip gave away a corner against Arsenal because he blocked a shot from a clearly offside Aubameyang. Same happened when Adrian made a save from an offside player against Burnley.
@Gary: it’s not a reluctance, the actual rule has changed so the AR now must wait to flag. This is just one of the many rules that have had to be changed to accommodate VAR; others include the handball rule and rules relating to the taking and officiating of penalties. There will be more changes to the rules in order to accommodate VAR, which is such a shame as it is slowly ruining football for me.
@JoeO: The offside rule is still the exact same, it’s just that assistant referees know if their decision is wrong they can go back to it after the play finishes rather than stopping an attack then being proven wrong by VAR and having no idea how to restart.
The technology exists to put a chip in the ball and monitor where it is on the pitch at all times. Easily done.
@Mick O’Shea: That is already done no? The goal line technology used the past three years.
The new handball rule is there to justify VAR and nothing else, is absolutely rediculous, nonsensical and cannot last. It is driving viewers round the bend.
@Sheila Teehan: if that’s the case, how does the new rule justify VAR?
I feel that the new handball rule is causing a lot of anger and VAR is the scapegoat. It’s dodgy now but it’ll be fine in a year
Lot of experts on here.