VAR has turned the Premier League into a laughing stock – we’re killing football as we know it – The Sun

VAR has turned the Premier League into a laughing stock.

The new technology has had a couple of bad weekends this term but Saturday was the worst day for goals being wrongly ruled out.

Players, managers and fans are all complaining and I can see why. No one is enjoying this — we’re killing the sport as we know it.

I’m bewildered because too many goals are being ruled out due to the biggest issue within VAR — marginal offsides.

The benefit of the doubt used to go to the attacker but not any more. At worst, Norwich’s Teemu Pukki was level.

Why are we even looking at incidents like this?

No one would have complained had Pukki’s goal stood against Spurs. The purists will say offside is offside. But the technology isn’t 100 per cent accurate so offside will remain open to interpretation.

Football isn’t about armpits or the skin of a shoulder.

It’s about goals and entertaining the fans in the most watched league in the world.

HALSEY ON…

VAN DIJK HANDBALL

It is handball, although accidental, and van Dijk’s long ball led to a goal so it should have been disallowed under Law 12 – handling the ball.

JORGINHO SECOND YELLOW

I am amazed referee Craig Pawson did not issue a second yellow card to Jorginho at the Emirates.

It should have been a mandatory caution for the Chelsea midfielder on Matteo Guendouzi because it was a clear holding offence by the Italian which stopped a promising attack.

Jorginho was very lucky to stay on the field of play as he was already on a yellow card.

Pawson was in an excellent position and had a clear view of the offence. It’s a basic error from an international referee.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta can feel frustrated and aggrieved because Jorginho scored a vital equaliser minutes later.

Although red cards are one of the four criteria for VAR, the technology is not permitted to intervene.

VAR cannot get involved in yellow card offences, only straight red card situations.

I hoped VAR would eradicate major offside errors such as Cesar Azpilicueta’s goal for Chelsea at Cardiff last season.

Yet VAR should not have intervened for any of the three goals scored by Pukki, Dan Burn and Max Meyer.

I suggest that for marginal offsides we follow cricket’s use of umpire’s call so we stay with the on-field decision.

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