Last night, as Leicester City overcame Fleetwood Town in an FA Cup 3rd round replay, the full worth of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was demonstrated for all to see.
Tonight, as Chelsea and Norwich City entered extra-time in their own drawn replay, referee Graham Scott was implored by the Chelsea players to use the new technology after he had appeared to misjudge a challenge on Chelsea's Willian.
With both sides tiring after a tightly-contested 90 minutes that ended level, Willian made a break across the Norwich City box and appeared to be taken down.
Reacting immediately, Scott, to the surprise of many, didn't signal for a penalty. Instead, it was a free out that was awarded and a yellow card for the Brazilian's apparent simulation.
Buoyed somewhat by the new means of expressing frustration at a decision that went against them, Chelsea's players immediately began to make the signal for Scott to consult his video assisted colleague.
In reality, it is the Video Assistant Referee that needs to make his attention clear to Scott. However, they persistently tried to change his mind.
With the aid of many replays for viewers watching the event on BBC One, there was outcry that such a seemingly blatant foul had somehow been missed by both Scott and the VAR.
How an earth is that not an obvious and clear error on VAR ! Last night it worked perfectly on the offside as it was a fact , tonight shambles
— Robbie Savage (@RobbieSavage8) January 17, 2018
Hold up??? Is that not what VAR is for???
— Jody Morris (@morriskid) January 17, 2018
No point in VAR if that’s not a penalty
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 17, 2018
Hate to get dragged into this, but why wouldn’t the ref go to the VAR there? It’s a penalty.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) January 17, 2018
Surely that was a moment to actually use VAR?
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) January 17, 2018
Where's your famous, where's your famous, where's your famous VAR?
— Mark Worrall (@gate17marco) January 17, 2018
Think the bloke checking the VAR is pissed up! 🍺😂
— Darren Huckerby (@hucks6dh6) January 17, 2018
VAR. Carnage! #CHENOR
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) January 17, 2018
This appealing for VAR with the TV screen gesture will become very, very annoying.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) January 17, 2018
Introduce VAR (too quickly) and then don’t use it for an easy decision to overrule a yellow card for simulation by Willian and correctly award a penalty. #CHENOR #FACup
— Graeme Le Saux (@graemelesaux14) January 17, 2018
While the general consensus amounts to why the referee wouldn't just check to be doubly sure, as football journalist Miguel Delaney points out, if the referee is confident he has the right decision, why would he check at all?
Yet, that was hardly the end of it. A later, more blatant, bit of simulation resulted in Alvaro Morata receiving a second yellow-card and joining Pedro as the two Chelsea players sent off tonight.
As extra-time ended without any further goals scored, the referee was roundly booed by the disgruntled Chelsea fans.
Are the guys in the VAR room watching Mock the Week?
— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) January 17, 2018
One game has killed VAR for everyone ! 😂
— Darren Huckerby (@hucks6dh6) January 17, 2018
That's harsh. Morata should not have been booked for that. But VAR can't intervene for yellows.
— Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein) January 17, 2018
What a bonkers game!!! Goes to penalties!!!Chelsea down to 9 ! Morata red Pedro red... VAR not used when clear and obvious penalty not given...
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) January 17, 2018
In the end, with many fans furious at Scott's tight usage of the new technology, nine-man Chelsea eventually put Norwich away after a penalty shoot-out.
