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#2 VAR intervention for Promes' goal proves its brighter side
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been subject to mixed criticism since its introduction to European football. While it has purified a few fundamentals and added an extra dimension to the naked eye, it's received major scorn for interrupting the flow of the game and often, awarding the benefit of the doubt to the on-field referee.
Ajax's sustained pressure and possession momentarily paid off when Hakim Ziyech's floated delivery into a dangerous area down the far post ended up into the back of the net through a stab from Quincy Promes.
However, the goal was disallowed as the winger was, by the finest of margins, deemed offside. Now, that is where the VAR comes handy. In absolutely no way could the referee or his assistant have protracted those angles out with their bare vision.
When there's an involvement of a hand in the course of a goal, VAR rules it out, regardless of whether it's voluntary or not. That too, is a fine asset in the handbook of the digitization of the football referee.
VAR is sure to remain subjective for a variety of arguments, but in tight moments such as these, one could hardly argue against its models.
