10 things VAR could stand for that would be less annoying than Video Assistant Referee

By Ty Finch | Jul 14, 2017

CHIBA, JAPAN - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Referee Kenji Ogiya shows an yellow card to Daigo Furukawa (R) of JEF United Chiba during the 97th Emperor's Cup third round match between JEF United Chiba and Gamba Osaka at Fukuda Denshi Arena on July 12, 2017 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /

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Arsenal’s Spanish right back Hector Bellerin plays a cross during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen football match between FC Bayern Munich and Arsenal in Munich, southern Germany, on February 15, 2017. / AFP / Odd ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) /

Very Annoying Right-back

Every defender, even a very annoying right-sided full-back, is useful on the pitch at some point. The same cannot be said about VAR.

Anyone who has been a fan of a club for more than a few years has had to deal with an annoying right-back at some point. As an Arsenal fan myself, I prefer not to reminisce about the days of Carl Jenkinson wandering around in that spot. I personally never want to see Timmy Chandler in a U.S. soccer jersey again. However, they’re both preferable to VAR.

A very annoying right-back has certain tendencies that get on the nerves of three different sections of people: his teammates, his manager and the opposition.

His manager and teammates become irritated with this player if he blames them for his mistakes, doesn’t hold the offside line or fancies himself an auxiliary winger. Full-backs today play so far up the pitch the last action especially holds true. Everyone wants to be a forward.

The good thing about having a very annoying right-back is when it comes to the opposition. An utter annoyance that the other team has to deal with can be a huge psychological boost. Stepping on toes, pulling jerseys, light pushing and shoving, anything to get inside the opponents head. I once had a forward body-slam me because of my incessant pestering. I still consider that a win.

So, while a very annoying right-back may seem marginally better than VAR at best, the possibilities of usefulness favor the defender.

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