Football English Blog: Do you want VAR?
Football English Blog: Do you want VAR?
In all of our Football English blogs, we look at a topical item of football news and ask you to do three things:
- Read the article and look at the words in red. Think about what these words mean.
- Do the quiz at the end of the article. This quiz checks your understanding of the football English in the article.
- Answer the questions and give your opinion in the comments section.
This is our latest Football English Blog and this week we're talking about whether VAR technology is a good thing for football or not.
Technology and Football
This is not the first time that technology has been brought into the game of football. Innovations over the last 50 years include better quality footballs, goalkeeping gloves and football boots. But, it's the decision to introduce electronic technology into the game that has been most controversial. Following a number of errors that resulted in goals not being given, as assistant referees hadn't seen the ball cross the line, football associations decided to investigate the use of goal-line technology that was being used successfully in other sports such as tennis. In 2013, it was introduced in the Premier League. The 2014 World Cup was the first time goal-line technology was used on the world stage. Its use has been a success and the system of sending an immediate message to the referee's watch that a goal has been scored is seen by most as fast and fair.
What is VAR?
VAR is one step further than goal-line technology. It stands for Video Assistant Referee and is a system of video technology that allows difficult decisions to be looked at again on a screen; either by the match referee or a team of experts in a control room, who are in contact with the referee on the pitch. Unlike goal-line technology, which looks at one thing related to the game, VAR looks at four match-changing events. These are:
- Goals and the build-up to the goal
- Penalty decisions
- Red cards
- Mistaken identity
The referee can either ask for help from VAR or the VAR team can notify the referee if a clear mistake has been made. The referee will then go to the touchline to look at a replay of the incident and make a decision.
Why is VAR controversial?
People who want to see VAR used say that it will mean more correct decisions being made on the pitch. VAR could stop bad offside decisions being made and decrease diving and acts of simulation as players will know that these incidents will get looked at again. However, people who would prefer not to have VAR in the game say that it will slow the game down because we will have to wait for a decision to be made. Some pundits and commentators have also mentioned that some incidents are too subjective. They say that VAR may not be able to help with penalty decisions as people often disagree about when a penalty should be given or not.
Do we need VAR in the Premier League?
Watch this video (with subtitles) and let us know what you think about the decisions made in the recent Liverpool - Spurs match.
Quiz
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Comment
What do you think?
Do you think VAR should be used in the Premier League? Why/why not?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using VAR?
Do you understand all the football English in red?
Write your answers in the comments section below.
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Comments
06/06/2024
points
VAR needs to go.
06/06/2024 10:19
Chelsea
1
VAR needs to go.
25/02/2024
points
No. It better be out because it is bad! They made incorrect decisions.
25/02/2024 03:50
Liverpool
4
No. It better be out because it is bad! They made incorrect decisions.
23/11/2023
points
Well, I do badly.Sorry.
23/11/2023 02:37
Manchester United
443
Well, I do badly.Sorry.
09/11/2023
points
Ok so refs are out of their jobs and big six biases are VARs thing I guess
09/11/2023 17:09
Nottingham Forest
9
Ok so refs are out of their jobs and big six biases are VARs thing I guess
09/11/2023
points
I think so but it might put the poor referee out of his/her/their job
09/11/2023 17:07
Nottingham Forest
9
I think so but it might put the poor referee out of his/her/their job
11/11/2023
points
I think it was built to HELP the ref, not replace.
And besides, it was only built to help keep matches fair.
11/11/2023 19:46
Liverpool
9
I think it was built to HELP the ref, not replace.
And besides, it was only built to help keep matches fair.
09/11/2023
points
I liked this it described more about football for me bc I play football but I didn’t know some of it
09/11/2023 16:18
Manchester City
9
I liked this it described more about football for me bc I play football but I didn’t know some of it
08/11/2023
points
It should so the referee can tell if the ball has crossed the line or not it will stop arguing amongst the players
08/11/2023 20:33
Nottingham Forest
8
It should so the referee can tell if the ball has crossed the line or not it will stop arguing amongst the players
08/11/2023
points
VAR is very good as it is accurate and it stops arguments with players because its on camera and you cant possibly lie about that when millions of people over the world will see the footage. A down side of VAR is that it takes a while to check the footage and it delays the game which will annoy people. It could also stops people trying to get free kicks because they don't want to have to wait ages and possibly not get the free kick.
08/11/2023 16:26
Nottingham Forest
6
VAR is very good as it is accurate and it stops arguments with players because its on camera and you cant possibly lie about that when millions of people over the world will see the footage. A down side of VAR is that it takes a while to check the footage and it delays the game which will annoy people. It could also stops people trying to get free kicks because they don't want to have to wait ages and possibly not get the free kick.
09/06/2023
points
Yes, VAR brings fairness and accuracy to the game, reducing controversial decisions. It adds drama, debates, and excitement. While not flawless, its implementation enhances the sport's integrity and ensures crucial moments are properly adjudicated, making it a valuable addition to modern football.
09/06/2023 16:49
Liverpool
1
Yes, VAR brings fairness and accuracy to the game, reducing controversial decisions. It adds drama, debates, and excitement. While not flawless, its implementation enhances the sport's integrity and ensures crucial moments are properly adjudicated, making it a valuable addition to modern football.
08/09/2022
points
VAR is utterly unacceptable, teams are losing out on vital points which could push them up positions in the table by the end of the season. The 'big 6' seem to get bias towards them which is not fair for the other smaller clubs which rightly deserve the decisions.
08/09/2022 12:43
Leeds United
11
VAR is utterly unacceptable, teams are losing out on vital points which could push them up positions in the table by the end of the season. The 'big 6' seem to get bias towards them which is not fair for the other smaller clubs which rightly deserve the decisions.
09/11/2023
points
Oh ok
09/11/2023 17:08
Nottingham Forest
9
Oh ok
13/03/2022
points
Why can todays VAR team see a minuscule deflection for a handball against Leicester and yet not see a whole arm handball against Man City last weekend ???
13/03/2022 18:08
Brentford
10
Why can todays VAR team see a minuscule deflection for a handball against Leicester and yet not see a whole arm handball against Man City last weekend ???
08/09/2022
points
brexit
08/09/2022 12:47
Leeds United
11
brexit
08/09/2022
points
Hello LUFC Callum
What has Brexit got to do with VAR?
08/09/2022 16:30
Arsenal
560
Hello LUFC Callum
What has Brexit got to do with VAR?
22/10/2021
points
Yes. VAR is really helpful.
22/10/2021 10:45
Manchester United
68
Yes. VAR is really helpful.
29/09/2020
points
Let's get one thing straight, VAR has done nothing to enhance the game. A referee makes his decision and because a panel of "experts" (?) don't agree, the referee is deemed to have made a mistake and is forced to change his original decision? It has absolutely nothing to do with video technology, it is simply 2 differing opinions, made by a man or woman on the field and a panel of referees in z control room maybe hundreds of miles away. Players having goals disallowed for a bootlace being over an imaginary line drawn on a TV screen, penalties being awarded for the merest hint of a push, it does nothing to enhance the game, just the opposite! VAR is not working, it is bad for the game, it is too arbitrary, too slow, with no communication between a sometimes baffled crowd and the referees/ panel. Get rid of it, for the sake of the game!
29/09/2020 07:04
Manchester United
13
Let's get one thing straight, VAR has done nothing to enhance the game. A referee makes his decision and because a panel of "experts" (?) don't agree, the referee is deemed to have made a mistake and is forced to change his original decision? It has absolutely nothing to do with video technology, it is simply 2 differing opinions, made by a man or woman on the field and a panel of referees in z control room maybe hundreds of miles away. Players having goals disallowed for a bootlace being over an imaginary line drawn on a TV screen, penalties being awarded for the merest hint of a push, it does nothing to enhance the game, just the opposite! VAR is not working, it is bad for the game, it is too arbitrary, too slow, with no communication between a sometimes baffled crowd and the referees/ panel. Get rid of it, for the sake of the game!
05/08/2020
points
In my opinion V.A.R should be used not only in the Premier League but also in the all of the leagues in the world. That is modern technology which helps referee to make correct and fair decision. It prevents players from cheating ,tricking and faking. It also forces players to play ethically.
Referee's wrong desicion most of time causes loses of the point or a team relegation .
I think there is no disadvantage of this system. As it's said the new things always better than before things.
Except "act of simulation" I heard all of the phrases.
05/08/2020 17:54
Tottenham Hotspur
5558
In my opinion V.A.R should be used not only in the Premier League but also in the all of the leagues in the world. That is modern technology which helps referee to make correct and fair decision. It prevents players from cheating ,tricking and faking. It also forces players to play ethically.
Referee's wrong desicion most of time causes loses of the point or a team relegation .
I think there is no disadvantage of this system. As it's said the new things always better than before things.
Except "act of simulation" I heard all of the phrases.
27/06/2020
points
we all love football.
27/06/2020 07:47
Sheffield United
1
we all love football.
15/11/2019
points
VAR should be used not only in Premier League, but in all major leagues and tournament.
VAR is an excellent way to weed out discrepancies during a match. But the current format is not the ideal way of implementing it.
My suggestion : Football matches proceed as normal with the referee in charge. Each manager hold 1 chance per half of the match to call for VAR review on any incident that happened on the field. The referee will review the video footage and amend his call accordingly.
This way, we have almost uninterrupted flow of the football match, and the VAR system will not be abused.
15/11/2019 11:54
Arsenal
1
VAR should be used not only in Premier League, but in all major leagues and tournament.
VAR is an excellent way to weed out discrepancies during a match. But the current format is not the ideal way of implementing it.
My suggestion : Football matches proceed as normal with the referee in charge. Each manager hold 1 chance per half of the match to call for VAR review on any incident that happened on the field. The referee will review the video footage and amend his call accordingly.
This way, we have almost uninterrupted flow of the football match, and the VAR system will not be abused.
20/09/2019
points
the var is like what we have before, sometimes good sometimes bad as the ordinary refree, i prefer maintain the original one.
20/09/2019 11:01
Manchester United
196
the var is like what we have before, sometimes good sometimes bad as the ordinary refree, i prefer maintain the original one.
11/09/2019
points
It almost in red are make it.
11/09/2019 01:07
Manchester City
309
It almost in red are make it.
01/09/2019
points
(A) VAR should be used as officials have time to closely scrutinise any incident deemed important enough to affect the game result. By so doing a fair result will eventuate than inaccurate decisions leading to a different outcome, frustration for players who may retaliate and spectators to lose respect.
BUT VAR, like in cricket, should be used for ALL significant decisions as the refereeing is a team duty without any conditional areas of focus. Surely a VAR official cannot refer back to on field decisions when they have time to evaluate a better informed decision. If in doubt then no action required.
(B) There are no disadvantages as all players and spectators would appreciate a minute delay in order to have rules correctly applied.
(C) The first question by using grammar gives us an answer by asking if "an" person can be linesman, linesperson or assistant referee. "An" can only apply to a word commencing with a vowel so on that basis the "lines" words were not the answer.
01/09/2019 16:19
West Ham United
9
(A) VAR should be used as officials have time to closely scrutinise any incident deemed important enough to affect the game result. By so doing a fair result will eventuate than inaccurate decisions leading to a different outcome, frustration for players who may retaliate and spectators to lose respect.
BUT VAR, like in cricket, should be used for ALL significant decisions as the refereeing is a team duty without any conditional areas of focus. Surely a VAR official cannot refer back to on field decisions when they have time to evaluate a better informed decision. If in doubt then no action required.
(B) There are no disadvantages as all players and spectators would appreciate a minute delay in order to have rules correctly applied.
(C) The first question by using grammar gives us an answer by asking if "an" person can be linesman, linesperson or assistant referee. "An" can only apply to a word commencing with a vowel so on that basis the "lines" words were not the answer.
23/08/2019
points
1. The VAR is important or useful so that the arbitrator has a more accurate decision of what happened, and thus avoid misunderstanding
2. One advantage is that in the game you don't always capture exactly the moments when a penalty is charged, the VAR helps us to have another view of what didn't look good
A disadvantage is that this causes many problems and delays for the arbitrator
3. Not many but I can relate them to the text and try to understand them
23/08/2019 00:40
Manchester United
91
1. The VAR is important or useful so that the arbitrator has a more accurate decision of what happened, and thus avoid misunderstanding
2. One advantage is that in the game you don't always capture exactly the moments when a penalty is charged, the VAR helps us to have another view of what didn't look good
A disadvantage is that this causes many problems and delays for the arbitrator
3. Not many but I can relate them to the text and try to understand them
23/08/2019
points
1-Yes, because that way we can be sure of what exactly happened but at the same time I think it should be used to avoid covering up the simulations
2-I wrote them in the first
3-more or leas
23/08/2019 00:19
Manchester United
90
1-Yes, because that way we can be sure of what exactly happened but at the same time I think it should be used to avoid covering up the simulations
2-I wrote them in the first
3-more or leas
22/08/2019
points
1.Yes because if we use it, the bad decisions will be stopped and the incidents will be examined again.
2.As I said in the last question the VAR does not help to have a clearer game to reduce diving and the bad thing is that you would have to wait for a decision and not all people agree with the penalties decisions.
3.There are no words that I have no idea.
22/08/2019 05:39
Manchester United
87
1.Yes because if we use it, the bad decisions will be stopped and the incidents will be examined again.
2.As I said in the last question the VAR does not help to have a clearer game to reduce diving and the bad thing is that you would have to wait for a decision and not all people agree with the penalties decisions.
3.There are no words that I have no idea.
22/08/2019
points
1.Yes because it helps the kid to atomize a more effective decision
2.An advantage is that the albritro can be more certain of his final answer
a disadvantage is that it causes a lot of controversy
3. Most yes but there are some very confusing
22/08/2019 05:30
Liverpool
82
1.Yes because it helps the kid to atomize a more effective decision
2.An advantage is that the albritro can be more certain of his final answer
a disadvantage is that it causes a lot of controversy
3. Most yes but there are some very confusing
22/08/2019
points
1. The var is useful for the referee to verify what happened in the event of a fault or penalty.
2. The advantage is that it can help in decisions of the referey.
3. I understand the vast majority of words in red.
22/08/2019 03:30
Manchester United
88
1. The var is useful for the referee to verify what happened in the event of a fault or penalty.
2. The advantage is that it can help in decisions of the referey.
3. I understand the vast majority of words in red.
22/08/2019
points
1.I do gree that the var is used since there are some faults that the referee does not realize or also to rectify any fault
2.The advantages are that they can rectify some fault,for me the disadvantage is that it takes away some emotion from the game
3 A little bit of difficulty i dont understand them very well
22/08/2019 03:25
Manchester United
22
1.I do gree that the var is used since there are some faults that the referee does not realize or also to rectify any fault
2.The advantages are that they can rectify some fault,for me the disadvantage is that it takes away some emotion from the game
3 A little bit of difficulty i dont understand them very well
22/08/2019
points
1. The VAR is very important beacause this helps the referee when he can't see something
2. An advantages are: When the referee can't see something
An disadvantages are: Emotion of the game, because this causes emotion in the assistant of the referee
3. I can understand
22/08/2019 03:17
AFC Bournemouth
86
1. The VAR is very important beacause this helps the referee when he can't see something
2. An advantages are: When the referee can't see something
An disadvantages are: Emotion of the game, because this causes emotion in the assistant of the referee
3. I can understand
22/08/2019
points
1.The VAR is quite useful for making decisions front a not very clear well played moves that should be used un the premier league.
2.the advantage of using the VAR is that in the face of doubtful plays you can get a correct answer and I think there is no disadvantage to using it.
3.I could understand the vast majority of the words in red
22/08/2019 03:14
Arsenal
87
1.The VAR is quite useful for making decisions front a not very clear well played moves that should be used un the premier league.
2.the advantage of using the VAR is that in the face of doubtful plays you can get a correct answer and I think there is no disadvantage to using it.
3.I could understand the vast majority of the words in red
22/08/2019
points
1.I believe that if it should be used to verify everything in case of infraction
2.the advantage is that we can verify and leave any type of doubt and as a serious disadvantage that they can be very subjective and make the game waste valuable time
3.
it was a little difficult for me but by context I succeed
22/08/2019 02:45
Manchester United
87
1.I believe that if it should be used to verify everything in case of infraction
2.the advantage is that we can verify and leave any type of doubt and as a serious disadvantage that they can be very subjective and make the game waste valuable time
3.
it was a little difficult for me but by context I succeed
22/08/2019
points
1. I think it is very necessary because when a non-visible foul is committed, the VAR helps the image to be retaken
2. The advantages that the referee helps are that they verify whether or not they are sure of any play
3.There are some words that I don't know their meaning
22/08/2019 01:00
Manchester United
85
1. I think it is very necessary because when a non-visible foul is committed, the VAR helps the image to be retaken
2. The advantages that the referee helps are that they verify whether or not they are sure of any play
3.There are some words that I don't know their meaning
22/08/2019
points
1-Yes, because VAR is an important system for the party's decisions to be fair and precise.
2-the advantage is that it helps to make the game more fair, the disadvantage is that the game slows down by waiting for a decision and sometimes the decisions are quite controversial.
3-I didn't really know most of the red words, but when I understood them and when I saw the context they were in, I found it easier to understand them.
22/08/2019 00:10
Manchester United
52
1-Yes, because VAR is an important system for the party's decisions to be fair and precise.
2-the advantage is that it helps to make the game more fair, the disadvantage is that the game slows down by waiting for a decision and sometimes the decisions are quite controversial.
3-I didn't really know most of the red words, but when I understood them and when I saw the context they were in, I found it easier to understand them.
21/08/2019
points
1.If the var gives more justice to football
2.The advantage of var is that football becomes more honest but a lot of time is lost with the
3.I understand many terms of soccer but in some of English football it is difficult for me
21/08/2019 23:57
Manchester City
17
1.If the var gives more justice to football
2.The advantage of var is that football becomes more honest but a lot of time is lost with the
3.I understand many terms of soccer but in some of English football it is difficult for me
21/08/2019
points
1.
The Var is very important Since with him the referee can make a correct decision.
2.
The advantage is that with it you can make a correct decision.
The disadvantage is that I could cause a lot of controversy, and it can also affect or help the equipment.
3.
Words are incomprehensible to me.
21/08/2019 23:57
Manchester United
83
1.
The Var is very important Since with him the referee can make a correct decision.
2.
The advantage is that with it you can make a correct decision.
The disadvantage is that I could cause a lot of controversy, and it can also affect or help the equipment.
3.
Words are incomprehensible to me.
21/08/2019
points
1. The var is very important because it is what he tells the referee and if a foul was committed or not, therefore it is important that he is in the Premier League
2. The advantage is that it helps the referral to make a decision and not cro that there is a disadvantage to a fair game
3 I don't understand some words
21/08/2019 23:37
Chelsea
86
1. The var is very important because it is what he tells the referee and if a foul was committed or not, therefore it is important that he is in the Premier League
2. The advantage is that it helps the referral to make a decision and not cro that there is a disadvantage to a fair game
3 I don't understand some words
21/08/2019
points
1.yes, because the VAR is so important when the refeer don't see something.
2.The advantage is that it can help in decisions of the refeer.
The disadvantage is that some decisions can be polemics.
3.some words i can't understand.
21/08/2019 03:03
Manchester United
66
1.yes, because the VAR is so important when the refeer don't see something.
2.The advantage is that it can help in decisions of the refeer.
The disadvantage is that some decisions can be polemics.
3.some words i can't understand.
21/08/2019
points
1.The var is useful for the referee to verify what happened in the event of a fault or penalty.
2.The advantage is that it makes the game more fair and in my opinion the VAR has no disadvantages.
3. I understand the most words.
21/08/2019 01:49
Chelsea
87
1.The var is useful for the referee to verify what happened in the event of a fault or penalty.
2.The advantage is that it makes the game more fair and in my opinion the VAR has no disadvantages.
3. I understand the most words.
21/08/2019
points
1. I think it is important that the VAR be used in the premier league
2.~An advantage is that the game is fair
~And the disadvantage would be for the losing game
3.I don't understand the words in red
21/08/2019 01:19
Manchester United
67
1. I think it is important that the VAR be used in the premier league
2.~An advantage is that the game is fair
~And the disadvantage would be for the losing game
3.I don't understand the words in red
20/08/2019
points
1) I think it should be used because it would help a lot in the matches
2) one advantage is that it would take away many doubts and the disadvantage is that it would not help the opposing team much
20/08/2019 23:14
Arsenal
75
1) I think it should be used because it would help a lot in the matches
2) one advantage is that it would take away many doubts and the disadvantage is that it would not help the opposing team much
20/08/2019
points
1) I think it should be used because it would help a lot in matches
2)one advantage is that it would help to knom if it is a goal and the disadvantage is that it would not help the opposing team
3)I really don't know What it is
20/08/2019 23:01
Arsenal
75
1) I think it should be used because it would help a lot in matches
2)one advantage is that it would help to knom if it is a goal and the disadvantage is that it would not help the opposing team
3)I really don't know What it is
20/08/2019
points
1)Yes,I think the VAR should be used in the premier league o avoid problems in the soccer field,with the help of VAR,it will be possible to know what happend more clearly.
2)I there is one advantage and one disadvantage:1)we can know what happened clearlier and the disadvantage is that the match lose a lot of time.
3)I understand the vast majority of words in red.
20/08/2019 21:56
Manchester United
81
1)Yes,I think the VAR should be used in the premier league o avoid problems in the soccer field,with the help of VAR,it will be possible to know what happend more clearly.
2)I there is one advantage and one disadvantage:1)we can know what happened clearlier and the disadvantage is that the match lose a lot of time.
3)I understand the vast majority of words in red.
20/08/2019
points
1.Yes, because var can help the referee make decisions.
2.
the most important ones are:
-help the referee to make decisions
- takes too much time
3.I do not understand some words.
20/08/2019 21:29
Manchester United
14
1.Yes, because var can help the referee make decisions.
2.
the most important ones are:
-help the referee to make decisions
- takes too much time
3.I do not understand some words.
20/08/2019
points
1 why it is a good resource to help the referee and players 2 the advantages of var is that it helps to make difficult decisions and a disadvantage is that it takes a lot of game time 3 I watch a lot of football on TV and I understand the words
20/08/2019 20:55
Liverpool
89
1 why it is a good resource to help the referee and players 2 the advantages of var is that it helps to make difficult decisions and a disadvantage is that it takes a lot of game time 3 I watch a lot of football on TV and I understand the words
20/08/2019
points
1. Yes, because would be avoided bad plays and would more pure.
2. The most important advantage of var is FairPlay
3. I don’t understand all red words
20/08/2019 19:42
AFC Bournemouth
25
1. Yes, because would be avoided bad plays and would more pure.
2. The most important advantage of var is FairPlay
3. I don’t understand all red words
20/08/2019
points
1.Yes, since it helps the referee a lot in making more concrete decisions
2.would believe that there are two fundamentals
- help in decision making
- can waste a lot of time
3.not at all:c
20/08/2019 06:10
Chelsea
79
1.Yes, since it helps the referee a lot in making more concrete decisions
2.would believe that there are two fundamentals
- help in decision making
- can waste a lot of time
3.not at all:c
20/08/2019
points
1)yes to make it a fairer match
2)the advantage is that it makes the game more fair and in my opinion the VAR has no disadvantages
3)I don't understand all the football English in red
20/08/2019 02:35
Manchester United
119
1)yes to make it a fairer match
2)the advantage is that it makes the game more fair and in my opinion the VAR has no disadvantages
3)I don't understand all the football English in red
20/08/2019
points
1-I think var is a good strategy, but there are many factors that determine a match.
2-The advantages that the var would offer us would be that the referee's error and fewer red cards would not happen
3-no, some things I don't understand
20/08/2019 02:20
Manchester United
18
1-I think var is a good strategy, but there are many factors that determine a match.
2-The advantages that the var would offer us would be that the referee's error and fewer red cards would not happen
3-no, some things I don't understand
19/08/2019
points
yes i do because it is very impotant for all player.
it is adventage because it has rules.
yes , i do
19/08/2019 20:33
Manchester United
89
yes i do because it is very impotant for all player.
it is adventage because it has rules.
yes , i do