VAR fail delays opening Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Norwich
Love it or hate it, VAR is here to stay. Or is it?
Making its debut in the Premier League, the video assistant referee has long divided fans and pundits with most grumbles aimed at the length of time it eats into match action.
But it wasn’t the decision making process that delayed Liverpool kicking off the second half of their opening Premier League game against Norwich, it was the technology itself failing.
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With Liverpool leading 4-0, the two teams prepared to lock horns again in the second period, only for referee Michael Oliver to delay proceedings with frequent gestures towards his headpiece.
After several minutes it became clear the communications system between the match officials and the video referees, based in Stockley Park in west London, was faulty. At one point, Oliver even gave his earpiece to Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson to prove all he could hear was feedback.
Safe to say, fans on Twitter weren’t overly happy.
Nobody is playing football because technology isn't working. That's wrong, isn't it?
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) August 9, 2019
There is not even a decision to be made and VAR still gets it wrong! Let’s forget it and go back to human error, at least it created talking points and you can celebrate a goal without having to wait for confirmation #LIVNOR
— Dan Smith (@dcsmith87) August 9, 2019
@btsportfootball
This is ridiculous.
The referees and the FA should have a back up plan for this scenario.
VAR what is it good....#LIVNOR #PremierLeague— Seán Dunne (@Seandunne) August 9, 2019
The game did eventually restart, with telephones used as a backup should the game required the input of VAR.
Not only can we expected a season of uncertainty, debate and delays through on field decisions, we may now have to second guess the system itself.
Technology, eh?!
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