What FIFA can learn from MLS about VAR
By Chuck Booth
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be coming to World Cup 2018 in Russia whether we like it or not. So how can FIFA prepare?
In 2016, VAR was approved as one of the laws of the game and MLS and the USL were among the first leagues to try it. Due to all other major American sports having some type of replay, it made sense for MLS and USL to try it. The United States Soccer Federation appointed Howard Webb as the manager of video assistant referee operations. Webb’s experience in the global game ensured no stone would be left unturned as VAR was trialled in USL before making a full debut in MLS during the second half of 2017.
VAR can be used in four key situations in a soccer match. Every goal is reviewed to make sure there are no infractions in the lead-up to the goal. Penalty decisions can be reviewed to see if the penalty should be given or not. Red card decisions can be reviewed and mistaken identity can be reviewed.
Initially, there was concern about the time reviews take but MLS has gotten them down to a science with most reviews taking 15-30 seconds (shorter than the time spent celebrating after a goal is scored) to create a minimal stoppage of play.
This is in stark contrast to England, where the review process has been clunky and slow, resulting in a noticeable effect on games. The reviews have taken longer than they should and fans have been given no indication of what’s happening. While some of the acceptance of VAR in MLS is due to Americans being used to replays in major sports, FIFA should contact Webb in order to see how he was able to make reviews so snappy.
The one aspect FIFA can stand to learn from the mistakes of MLS and the PRO Referee’s Association is in the ambiguity of replays. Why are some questionable tackles in the box reviewable while others aren’t? There’s also the overarching question of intent that comes into play with Kaka’s red card given by VAR last year.
It’s clear both Kaka and Aurelien Collin are laughing about the incident and that it was a joke but Kaka still received the red. While hands to the face is an automatic red, for VAR to miss that there was no intent to harm or endanger the opponent, Kaka should have stayed on the pitch.
It’s a grey area because there’s no way of eliminating the human element of interpreting the game but that’s part of sports. We can only hope that the refs do the best job that they can because no one will perfectly judge a situation every time. But when it comes to offsides decisions and fouls leading up to goals, MLS is pretty spot on with their calls.
If FIFA can lessen the ambiguity of situations that call for VAR, it can become more of a help than an annoyance during the World Cup.