Modern Times in Football: Nostalgia or Technology? The Big Question

Written by Subhajit Sengupta on January 25, 2018

The implementation of video assistant referee (VAR) is supposed to take FIFA’s “My game is fair play” banner to a new height. With technological intervention, match defining controversial decisions will become yesterday’s story but at what cost? Should compromising fans’ emotions to enhance the quality of the game be a legitimate call? Subhajit Sengupta at Goalden Times tried to solve the big riddle called VAR.

In 1932, the king of sarcasm, Charles Spencer Chaplin embarked on an 18-month world tour of Europe. During this period, he became very disturbed to see the rise of nationalism and the social effects of depression, unemployment and automation. His message came strong four years later through the timeless classic “Modern Times”. In a newspaper interview, Chaplin once said “…Machinery should benefit mankind. It should not spell tragedy…”[1]

When a machine is used to replace human effort, the process is certain to reach its perfection but the good old days of human effort becomes a thing of nostalgia. Now if introduction of technology is committing a scene of unemployment and hunger then its acceptance becomes a subject of debate but if that is not the case then why not stretch our arms towards the technological advancement? Especially in the field of sports, that has engaged itself with the advancement long time ago. Two of the most popular outdoor sports, cricket and tennis have introduced technology for the betterment of the game and that effort towards continuous improvement is still in progress. Football probably remains the only game played in the outfield that stayed away from the benefits of technological improvement for centuries now. The absence of technological interventions into the game must have kept FIFA like a Luddite. If technological interventions would have been introduced to the game earlier then Geoff Hurst’s goal in the 1966’s World Cup final would have been cancelled and West Germany might have had their second trophy sooner than they had eight years later. The infamous “Hand of God” would never have happened and a better view of Roberto Sensini’s tackle on Rudi Völler in the 1990’s World Cup final might have gone the other way. Now in all honesty, all these ’may be’s would have benefitted the more deserving team. But there’s a different side to the coin as well. These marginal decisions have sparked rivalries between nations for an indefinite period. Fans and supporters stay particularly exuberant while they face those opponents. A hope of redemption creates the atmosphere, the heat and that’s why you want to be on the ground and not in front of the television set. This is that intensity that forms the heart and soul of the game. After all what is the beautiful game without its fans’ insanity!

The infamous “Hand of God” would never have happened and a better view of Roberto Sensini’s tackle on Rudi Völler in the 1990’s World Cup final might have gone the other way.

It is needless to say that technology would have had its intervention with the game eventually. Instead the subject of discussion should be why so late when the technology was ready for so long? 25 years since cricket had implemented TV review to achieve a fair game, FIFA stayed like a bird that can’t fly. With more time, the majority of people associated with it started to feel technology is needless in football and thus the nostalgia-driven of acceptance of error prone decisions remained as strong as ever.

So, when FIFA finally decided to shake hands with evolving technology, they intended to strike a balance between rules and emotions.

In 2012[2], FIFA introduced goal line technology (GLT) that would assist the on-field referees to ascertain whether the ball has crossed the goal line behind the goalkeeper. No one debated the decision. Everyone was happy. The step not only gave FIFA the green signal to go ahead with new technologies but also ensured that no valid goal gets cancelled ever again.

1966 World Cup – The infamous goal line controversy of the final.
[Source – CNN]

Five years have passed since then but no new technological advancement was seen to make the beautiful game even more beautiful. However, FIFA wasn’t sitting idle during this period. They were trying their hand at the next big thing – VAR (video assistant referee). This technology would supposedly take the quality of the game to a different level where an on field referee’s decision can be challenged in precisely four cases: goals, penalties, red cards and mistaken identities[3]. The decision to call for a review can be taken both or either by the on-field referee and the video assistant referee. Successful implementation of VAR would wipe out match defining controversies and every match will be fair and square. They started running the trials of VAR in August 2016 in a United Soccer League match between two Major League Soccer reserve sides. The A-League in Australia became the first to use a VAR system in a professional league[4]. And when FIFA was finally convinced, they implemented the full system in two major tournaments – the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2017 Confederations Cup. But things didn’t seem to go as planned. This new technology left every single person on the ground perplexed. The players, the managers and even the fans didn’t really know what was going on. The lack of communication between the on field and video assistance referees spoiled the charm of the game to a great extent. Every single person in the stadium got confused whether to celebrate a goal or not. By the time, the confirmation came, the joy was long gone. As for the outcome of the system, it will be too harsh to say that everything has gone in vain.

The first VAR assisted call in the Confederations Cup was made during the match between Portugal and Mexico when Portugal forward Nani converted from a rebound when Cristiano Ronaldo’s volley had rattled the crossbar. After consulting with the VAR, it is seen that four Portuguese players had been offside in the passage of play before Ronaldo’s shot and hence the goal was disallowed. Then again during a match between Chile and Cameroon, Chile striker Eduardo Vargas’s first half stoppage time goal was cancelled when VAR noticed that his head was in an offside position. In the second half of the same match, Alexis Sánchez’s shot was blocked by the Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa only to find Vargas to receive the rebound. He didn’t delay to tap in the ball inside the net but was flagged offside by the linesman. Another call went to VAR and this time VAR confirmed the goal was legitimate. Better late than never, huh?

With the implementation of VAR, FIFA made their point clear. They’re promising a fair game but it is the process of achieving fair play status that has created a dense cloud of confusion amongst the players and the fans around the world.

Football is a game of physical stamina. Too many stoppages will give players time to retrieve their lost energy. Wouldn’t it cut short the advantages of the teams with greater physical stamina?

Where there is technology, there is always a possibility of malfunction. What happens if the machines stop working during a review or starts malfunctioning? How would the referee draw a conclusion to that? After a successful implementation of VAR in the Bundesliga[5] this season, technical difficulties overshadowed the advantages of the technology in all 3:30 PM matches on August 19, which prompted DFL to call it “unacceptable”[7].

The project is still in its pilot phase and FIFA is trying to make the system universally acceptable before the main event in Russia in 2018. Before implementing it in the largest tournament on Earth, FIFA should consider on rapid improvement of the procedures so that the confusions can be avoided and the game does not lose its soul.

Just like in Germany, Serie A[6] have also implemented VAR in the current season and they’re hopeful about its positive outcome and they’re not all wrong to say the least. On the opening fixture in the Serie A between Juventus and Cagliari, VAR was called on for the first time in the 40th minute. Play had been initially allowed to continue after a challenge by Alex Sandro on Duje Cop. However, upon review, it was seen that Sandro had trod on Cop’s boot as the ball reached him inside the hosts’ penalty area. Cagliari were awarded a spot-kick. Similar stories of positive outcome followed elsewhere during the weekend. Napoli’s opening goal at Verona, Fabio Quagliarella’s equaliser for Sampdoria against Benevento and a penalty award for Internazionale against Fiorentina were all reviewed, and on each occasion the referee’s initial decision was upheld justly. Milan defender Leonardo Bonucci received a straight red card after he caught Genoa winger Aleandro Rosi with his elbow. Referee initially called for a review and then confirmed as Bonucci received his marching order. An average of 13.5 penalties were given in the first five games of previous four Serie A campaigns which has raised to 22 this season after the introduction of VAR[8]. That is exactly how many penalties were being missed until now If we look at the brighter side, one controversial decision on a derby day can lead to fatal effect as fans of either side often resort to vandalism. A fair game can at least save a few lives to say the least.

As we speak about VAR being implemented in Germany and Italy, England meanwhile enjoyed a smooth debut of the technology in the third round of the FA Cup draw between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace. VAR came into play in the 87th minute when referee Andre Marriner called for a re-check of Glenn Murray’s winner. The result came quick and fare, removing every shadows of doubt. With crucial stages still to play in the tournament, VAR is expected to come in good effects and the outcome may well lead FA to implement the technology in the Premiere League next season.

The TV screen for the referee to review a controversial situation. [PHOTO – Guenter SCHIFFMANN]

As I had the opportunity to talk to many football fanatics around the world, I preferred to talk to those who enjoyed the premature look of VAR. People from United States, Australia, Russia, Germany and Italy have all came out with their opinion and it is a mixed bag of emotions. One thing became certain from their opinion and that is FIFA must not tread on the fans’ emotions. Just like the players, the managers and the subs, the fans also want to celebrate the moment. The moment that brings out sheer joy and that is the emotion with this game. Of course a review would take more time than an instant decision but a little time that clears all the confusion should be acceptable and at no point it would be inimical to the fans. Hidden fouls and use of elbows dangerously in the congested penalty box during those crunched last minutes would come out clearly. No side can complain about unjust calls and last but not the least footballers can again start concentrating on footballing skills only and not on play-acting. With proper implementation of VAR, the whole paradigm of the beautiful game will shift towards better and fairer days.

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Subhajit Sengupta

About Subhajit Sengupta

Subhajit is a die hard Chelsea fan who loves to follow, study, discuss and analyze the beautiful game. He can be reached at @subhajitcfc