VAR: Is Less More for Atlético?
The debate about VAR intervention is back, this time with Atlético de Madrid as the protagonist. After a vibrant match, the absence of VAR interruptions created an authentic football atmosphere, reminiscent of great cup nights.
However, the subsequent review of an Azpilicueta play, instigated from the VAR room, rekindled the controversy about when and how this technology should act.
The play in question, a tackle that the referee on the field considered worthy of a simple yellow card, was reviewed at the urging of VAR, raising doubts about the magnitude of the perceived error.
Was it really such a clear and obvious action as to justify stopping the game? This situation leads us to reflect on the original purpose of VAR: minimal intervention with maximum benefit.
The goal was never to turn it into a tool to correct every possible error, but to intervene in blatant situations that change the course of the match. Just as in the past a referee was praised for going unnoticed, now we should aspire for VAR to only be remembered at the end of the match, a sign that its intervention was fair and necessary. Hopefully we will see more Atleti matches where the refereeing technology allows us to enjoy the game without unnecessary interruptions.
