Loads of Leeds United fans have been discussing whether or not the English Football League should implement Video Assistant Referees in the Championship.
VAR has proven to be a hugely controversial topic since its introduction into the Premier League this season, with pundits, players, fans and managers alike each lamenting the way the technology has been utilised in the top-flight.
A number of Premier League head coaches met with Mike Riley, the manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) back in November to discuss the use of the VAR system following a string of questionable decisions.
Referees in leagues such as the Bundesliga and MLS often use the pitchside monitors to review key incidents themselves before changing the on-field decision, though Premier League officials do not.
No immediate adaptions were made to the protocol for VAR in the Premier League after the meeting with Riley, which led to continued criticism around the country as more and more controversial calls were made.
Would you like to see VAR introduced in the Championship?
Yes
No
Former top-flight ref Mark Clattenburg called for an immediate stop to the use of VAR in terms of offside calls back in December, after Wolverhampton Wanderers saw Pedro Netoโs equalising strike against Liverpool chalked off for a marginal offside.
It was the fourth VAR incident of that weekend’s round of fixtures, after three goals were ruled out for offside by margins impossible to see without forensic analysis.
Tottenham Hotspur and Watford supporters let their views on VAR be heard as the two sides met earlier this month, as well, with fans chanting “it’s not football anymore” as a review lasted three minutes.
Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara slammed the tech as “killing the game” after Neto’s goal was ruled out, too, while only earlier this week replays showed Sheffield United ‘keeper Dean Henderson being off his line as he saved a penalty from Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus though the spot-kick was not re-taken.
Leeds fans have been debating whether the VAR tech is a necessary evil for the Championship going forward, after we lost 1-0 at Queens Park Rangers last weekend despite Nahki Wells handling the ball with both arms before scoring.
Here are some of the messages sharedโฆ
A big NO. VAR is the ruin of the football. let the game be as it is ,sometimes in your favour sometimes against you, but that’s the beauty of the game.
โ Joseph Spiteri (@leedsjoespiteri) January 23, 2020
No! Would rather decisions go against us than have the fun sucked out of a match! Scoring a goal and not able to celebrate properly
โ niko goodwin (@nikogoodwin1) January 23, 2020
VAR has it’s pro’s and cons.
Giving offside for a hair on a players elbow is ridiculous but for players diving ๐โ Jay Abbott ๐๐ (@beefnut76) January 23, 2020
Hopefully we wonโt care what the efl do after this season!
โ Sean Sturman (@SaintSturman) January 23, 2020
No but we need a striker
โ Bobby (@LUFCBobby) January 23, 2020
There is technology available for @efl to use if they really wanted to…if I can see a reply of a contentious incident [Wells double handball for instance] in a matter of seconds of it happening, why canโt match officials? Give them better tools to make better decisions.
โ Carl Lomax (@a_non_e_mouse) January 23, 2020
Yes but only if they implement it like they do the rugby and also if the ref on the pitch goes to side of pitch to view screen himself
โ Mip (@mipsical) January 23, 2020
Err NO
โ Graeme Bandeira (@GraemeBandeira) January 23, 2020
Like all football fans, I’m a massive hypocrite. So I’d say it needed it at Loftus Road on Saturday, very badly indeed.
But no. VAR can do one full stop.โ Phil Harrison (@MrPMHarrison) January 23, 2020
No the Championship needs to replace the referees, thatโs the problem.
โ ๐ฝแง ฤ ล ๐ (@lufcryann) January 23, 2020
In other Leeds United news, the club are NOT expected to make a six-goal striker our January saviour despite recent reports.