Five basic principles to make VAR a success

#4 VAR must not interrupt the fluidity of the game

VAR is designed to get the big decisions right

In trial situations, the match referee has stopped the game, possibly consulted with the voices in his ear, and then walked over to the side of the field to replay the action on a monitor. The players stand around and wait, the crowd sit and wait, the television commentators spout cliches without committing themselves, afraid of making the wrong call.

All eyes are fixed on the referee, and during his walk to the sideline, he will receive contrasting advice from both sets of players. This has already happened many times. This must not happen again.

The match referee does not need to watch a reply, he must trust the judgement of the officials reviewing the action from the uninterrupted comfort of their private location. He can talk with them in real time, and with the judgement taken away, there is no reason for the referee to be pressured by players or coaches as he awaits the verdict.

The game may even be continuing as the action is being reviewed unless the referee is advised to bring the match to a pause. The fluidity of the game is an aspect that cannot be lost to the introduction and advancement of technology.