VAR's Impact on Champions League Matches: A Tale of Handballs and Red Cards
The VAR controversy continues to divide football fans, with the latest episode involving Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur.
In the Champions League on Tuesday night, VAR decisions left fans and players alike scratching their heads. Liverpool's fans were left bewildered when a free-kick was overturned to a dropped ball, just as they thought they had a penalty against Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Arsenal benefited from a Slavia Prague handball, despite it occurring after a defender's head touched the ball. And Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson was sent off against FC Copenhagen, and he was pretty unlucky.
Let's break down these incidents and explore the nuances of VAR's role in modern football.
Liverpool's Free-Kick Overturned
In the 30th minute, Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai attempted a shot on goal, which was blocked by Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni. The referee, Istvan Kovacs, initially gave a free-kick against Tchouameni for handball. However, upon reviewing the incident, VAR Bastian Dankert determined that the handball occurred inside the penalty area, and the decision was overturned.
The key point here is that the VAR's role is to review and correct factual errors, not to make subjective judgments. The referee's decision to go to the pitchside monitor was to overturn his initial call, as the handball was indeed inside the box, and a penalty was reviewable by VAR.
Arsenal's Penalty: A Delicate Balance
In the 32nd minute of Arsenal's game at Slavia Prague, Lukas Provod was ruled to have handled the ball after a corner was played into the box. The ball came off Provod's head and onto the ball, and the VAR was involved. While it's unlikely this would have been a VAR penalty in the Premier League, the distinction between deliberately heading the ball and a deflection is crucial.
In UEFA competitions, the expectation is that high-risk situations will be reviewed, even if there's negligible contact. This is why the VAR stepped in, and Arsenal was awarded a penalty.
Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson: An Unlucky Red Card
In the 57th minute of Spurs' match against FC Copenhagen, Brennan Johnson was sent off after a VAR review. He stretched to win the ball off Marcos Lopez but got nowhere near it, and his boot caught the back of Lopez's leg. The referee, Erik Lambrechts, showed a yellow card, but the incident was reviewed by VAR.
The key point here is that UEFA takes a strict view of any contact with a straight leg and studs up, which is above the boot. Even if it was accidental, the nature of the challenge led to a red card.
VAR's role in football continues to be a topic of debate, with fans and players alike trying to navigate the fine line between technology and human judgment. As we've seen, the decisions can be complex and nuanced, leaving even the most experienced observers scratching their heads. So, what do you think? Do you agree with the VAR's decisions in these incidents? Or do you think there's room for improvement? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
