Is the Video Assistant Referee Technology Good or Bad For MLS?
History was made when FIFA’s Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was used in an official USL match. Would this technology be good or bad for MLS?
If you were watching the match between Orlando City B and the NYRB II on August 12th, then you were in for a historic moment. The United Soccer League (USL) became the first North American Soccer League to use FIFA’s VAR. The Video Assistant Referee helped the head referee make a critical call in an important moment of the match.
The IFAB (International Football Association Board) approved the use of VAR for this game between two MLS reserve teams. Head ref, Ismail Elfath, used the VAR twice in the match and once in each half. Elfath worked with the VAR to communicate and take another look at the plays in question on a screen behind the goal.
“The VAR automatically reviews every goal, every red card and all penalties, and communicates directly with the head referee, who ultimately decides whether to resort to the monitor.” (MLSSoccer.com)
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In the first instance, Elfath reviewed a foul committed in the 36′ minute by Orlando’s Conor Donovan. He deemed that the foul was outside of the penalty area (which was the right call). And upon further review, the head referee determined that Donovan would see a straight red card for the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
In the second half, Ismail Elfath used the VAR to change a red card to a yellow card for a foul committed by Orlando’s Kyle McFadden in the 82nd minute. In both cases, the Video Assistant Referee helped the head ref make the right call. If this is the way of the future in MLS, is it good or bad for the league?
There are differing opinions on the use of video replay in soccer as many leagues around the world do not use this technology even though it is available. Most fans want to keep the game the way it has always been. Some fans love the human error involved with football. Many criticize that the United States is making soccer too much like American Football with replays being involved.
There is also the issue with the use of VAR slowing down the match because the ref must stop the game to review the plays. This technology is still in the beginning stages and there are a lot of kinks to still be worked out. By using the VAR more often, it will become easier to use and it could be sped up with a few slight changes.
If Major League Soccer does plan on implementing the VAR into each game, further testing must happen. Obviously the biggest advantage of video replays for the head referee is eliminating wrong calls from matches that cost teams’ points and games.
Applying this system to matches wouldn’t be that much different from the current rules. The head ref can consult with the Assistant Referee’s on the field for a better angle on a certain call. Eliminating the human error from sports has become the norm in America. Some soccer fans around the world and in the U.S. are not ready for that change.
It will be interesting to see if MLS ever decides to adopt this technology. Or if other major football leagues around the world do as well. I think that it would be great to eliminate crucial missed calls. Once the bugs get worked out of the current system, this could be huge for the sport going forward.