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VAR in the Premier LeagueVAR (Video Assistant Referee), was introduced to the Premier League at the beginning of the 2019-20 season. It uses technology and officials to assist the referee in making decisions on the pitch. However, its use has been met with mixed receptions from fans and pundits, with some praising its accuracy while others criticize its impact on the flow of the game and consistency of decision-making.

Functionality

The on-field referee still makes the final decision, but VAR can assist the referee in the decision-making process. VAR can only be used for four types of decisions: goals, penalty decisions, direct red card incidents, and cases of mistaken identity. VAR officials review the video footage and communicate with the on-field referee via a headset. The VAR officials are located in a central control room, which is equipped with multiple camera angles and the ability to replay footage at various speeds.

Fan Reception

A study evaluating fan reception of VAR in the Premier League was made by Otto Kolbinger and Melanie Knopp and was done by analyzing Twitter data. The researchers used sentiment analysis to measure the overall positive or negative attitudes towards VAR, as well as topic modeling to identify specific issues that fans are discussing related to VAR. The study found that the reception of VAR on Twitter is largely negative, with fans expressing frustration and criticism of the technology's impact on the flow of the game and the inconsistency of decisions. The researchers also identified specific issues, such as handball and offside decisions, that fans are particularly critical of. The study concludes that VAR has not been well received by fans in the Premier League, and that efforts to improve the technology and increase transparency in decision-making are needed to address these concerns.

Controversies

VAR has been involved in several controversies since its introduction. In the 2019-20 season, Manchester City were denied a late winning goal in a match against Tottenham Hotspur due to a VAR review. The incident occurred in the dying minutes of the match, with City leading 2-1. Gabriel Jesus appeared to have scored the winning goal, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review showed that the ball had hit Aymeric Laporte's arm in the build-up. The decision was controversial, with many City fans and pundits arguing that the incident did not meet the threshold for a handball offense and that the decision was overly harsh. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with City dropping two points and losing ground in the title race.

One incident from the 2022-23 season occurred in a match between Manchester United and Aston Villa in October 2022, where Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings was penalized for an unintentional handball, leading to a penalty for Manchester United. The decision was criticized by former Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard, who argued that it was not a penalty due to the lack of intent.