VAR from the Perspective of a Football Referee
The very first day of a football/soccer refereeing course, students are taught two amendments: The referee’s job is to control the flow of the game, and the referee is the only power in football.
Potential referees are taught about the flow of the game by using a saying, “a good referee knows when to enforce the laws, a great referee knows when not to.” Referees are always trying to keep the game flowing, that is their principle role. The laws of the game, linesmen, and any other officiating medium are tools to be used at a referee’s own will. In fact, my instructor during my first referee course, who had refereed in the CONCACAF Champions League and the Gold Cup, told my class he never even looks at his linesmen. The surprising fact is that he is not alone. There are some referees who don’t want to be influenced by the bias or mistakes of anything or anyone else. There are referees at the World Cup, and topflight football, who only see their linesmen before and after the game.
This leads to the second amendment; the referee is the only power in football. The moment a referee arrives at the pitch to the moment they leave; they have complete power to do whatever they want. The only exception is if there is already another referee present on the pitch. This means the referee can make decisions before and after the whistle has been blown. The referee has power over the players, fans, staff, grass, ball, other objects, everything. In fact, power is so important, that during a referee course, students are taught to stick with their decisions even if they realize they are wrong.
Video Assisted Referee or VAR was introduced as a way to help the officiating of the game. However, it has evolved into something far more maverick.
VAR in its current form (especially in England) stops the play to make decisions, and breaks the flow of the game; thus, it prevents referees from doing their main job. Some of these decisions or enforcements would be ignored by a referee to insure the flow of the game. Furthermore, by breaking the flow of the game, and making and enforcing decisions during the game, VAR becomes the first and only thing to take power away from the referee in the history of the sport.
As a referee I believe that VAR should be a tool for the referee to use at their own will. The referee is Judge, Jury, Lawyer, and God the moment they arrive on the pitch to the moment they leave. If the laws of the game are mere tools, then VAR should be no different.
Microphones can be put on the referee so the audience can hear their thinking process during a VAR review. Referee courses must be readjusted to properly address VAR. The leagues can fine referees, players, staff, or fans well after the game is over to enforce their company policies. Many reforms and reworkings are necessary to accommodate this technology. Perfection of the laws is difficult to obtain and it is critical for progress to continue to strive forward. However, it is also important for the lovers of football to understand the job and purpose of the referee: We preserve the flow of the game.
The flow of the game is what makes football beautiful, the nonstop action for two forty five minute halves is art in motion. Bob Marley’s words come to mind when thinking of the role of the referee, “Football is freedom, a whole universe.” Referees are the guardians of that freedom, the energy which silently ensures the flow of the universe.
