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#3 The Debut of VAR
Having caused controversy, confusion, and some outrage during this summer's World Cup, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will debut in La Liga this season. Whether you agree with the use of the technology or not, it is certain that the decision to use VAR for Spanish top-flight games will generate headlines over the coming months.
The use of VAR was implemented for the first time in a competitive Spanish fixture last weekend when Barcelona beat Sevilla to left the Spanish Supercopa de Espana. It will make it La Liga debut on Friday night as Girona take on Real Valladolid at the Estadi Montilivi.
With the Premier League rejecting the opportunity to implement VAR, it represents a big step for La Liga to use the technology this season. According to the Spanish Football Federation's official website, the referees have undergone rigorous training to prepare for VAR.
The website states that the federation has looked into the errors and issues which arose from the use of the technology during the World Cup and hope to learn from them while focuses on the successes of the new technology.
A major problem with VAR is the lack of communication for fans inside the stadium who generally have no idea what is happening when the referee is consulting the VAR team. It also disrupts the flow of the game as players cannot properly celebrate a goal until it has been confirmed by the officials.
The use of VAR makes it highly likely that we will see more penalties, red cards, and major decisions throughout the coming season. It will certainly add an extra element of excitement to the competition and could play a key role in some of the major fixtures during the campaign.
Next Up, #2 An Unpredictable Title Race.
