THE VAR SIDE
How Premier League table would look with no VAR as teams prepare for crucial vote ahead of next season
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NEWCASTLE were left counting the potential European cost of VAR in the Premier League after being the biggest “casualties” of the system.
Eddie Howe’s men will still clinch a Conference League spot if Manchester United do not win the FA Cup final on Saturday.
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But the Toon Army would already be ensured of a new European campaign without the technology.
SunSport has analysed every decision changed after the intervention of the Stockley Park video crew this season, and worked out the table as it would have stood if the original on-field decision had stayed in place.
The top five would have been in exactly the same position - although Aston Villa would have ended up four points ahead of fifth-placed Spurs.
But Newcastle, level on points with Chelsea, would have moved above the Blues into sixth on goal difference, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side the one sweating on events at Wembley this weekend.
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At the other end, the three relegated clubs would all still have gone down, although Luton’s fate would have been settled only on goal difference.
Brighton “lost” five points due to the technology, although only one place in the adjusted table.
VAR: The great debate
Martin Lipton's pro VAR view
FAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025.
After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football.
A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated.
And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones.
Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker.
It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m.
But it’s OK. Every one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O’Neil and the Wolves board, will line up to say: “No worries. It’s what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.”
Yes. And I’ve got a bridge to Ireland to sell you.
Dan King's anti VAR view
THREE cheers and a hearty slap on the back for Wolves chairman Jeff Shi.
For mentioning the unmentionable, for speaking commonsense to deaf ears, for proposing that VAR should be scrapped.
Shi is doomed to failure. His suggestion is unlikely to even go to a vote at next month’s Premier League AGM.
And if it does get that far, it has a cat in hell’s chance of receiving the two-thirds majority required to carry such a radical proposal.
But in one statement on Wednesday, Shi proved that he will be the brightest man in that meeting room.
He claimed VAR ‘has led to numerous unintended negative consequences that are damaging the relationship between fans and football, and undermining the value of the Premier League brand’.
And he is absolutely spot on.
The argument against VAR is wide-ranging and yet completely basic.
If you believe that football is a sport, to be enjoyed in all its spontaneous, high-tempo glory, then you are against VAR.
If you believe that football is a business, that it is far more important than a mere game, that forensic evidence must be applied, that we must reach the closest point to ultimate justice at all costs — and if you also believe that match-going supporters are irrelevant — then you are in favour of VAR.
Meanwhile, Everton, Fulham and Nottingham Forest ended up with three points more than they would have done without the technology.
Wolves’ season of VAR misery ended as it began, with Nelson Semedo’s red card at Anfield the SEVENTH decision overturned to their detriment, with only one change in their favour.
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And following their unfavourable season they have put forward a drastic proposal to scrap VAR which will be voted on by clubs on June 6.
Chelsea had a net of minus three on VAR decisions in their favour, with seven going for them and 10 against.
Man United defender Harry Maguire wants VAR SCRAPPED...except in ONE way and gives Fury vs Usyk prediction
Meanwhile, Fulham and Forest were the big winners, with five more decisions going in their favour.
Manchester City had four more VAR calls going in their favour than went against them.
Wolves' VAR complaints
Wolves have listed nine negative repercussions from the introduction of VAR in their complaint.
- Impact on goal celebrations and the spontaneous passion that makes football special
- Frustration and confusion inside stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication
- A more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against VAR
- Overreach of VAR’s original purpose to correct clear and obvious mistakes, now overanalysing subjective decisions and compromising the game’s fluidity and integrity
- Diminished accountability of on-field officials, due to the safety net of VAR, leading to an erosion of authority on the pitch
- Continued errors despite VAR, with supporters unable to accept human error after multiple views and replays, damaging confidence in officiating standards
- Disruption of the Premier League’s fast pace with lengthy VAR checks and more added time, causing matches to run excessively long
- Constant discourse about VAR decisions often overshadowing the match itself, and tarnishing the reputation of the league
- Erosion of trust and reputation, with VAR fuelling completely nonsensical allegations of corruption
Man Utd would have been just one point better off in the league, with five decisions going for and five going against them this season.
Liverpool were dead even this term, with six decisions apiece.
Burnley and Brighton were the only other teams aside from the north west rivals who had a net zero either way from VAR calls this season.
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