In a fiery outburst following a disappointing defeat in the North London Derby, former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou unleashed a scathing critique of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, lamenting the loss of in-stadium refereeing authority.
Ange Postecoglou, known for his passionate approach to football management and his successful two year stint at Celtic, did not hold back in his criticism after his team was negatively impacted by VAR decisions during the recent match. The technology, introduced to increase fairness and accuracy in the game has been a disaster.
“The games are not refereed in the stadium anymore,” Postecoglou stated emphatically told BeInSports “They are refereed somewhere else and no one will convince me otherwise. It’s not even re-refereed, it’s refereed somewhere else. That’s why I don’t celebrate goals anymore. I wait for somebody down the road.”
His frustration mirrors similar sentiments back in Scotland, where the use of VAR has been equally contentious. Recently, a significant incident at Ibrox during a match between Celtic and Rangers saw VAR turn an apparent dive by Rangers striker Fabio Silva into a penalty. This decision has fueled further debate over VAR’s effectiveness and its impact on the game’s integrity. Critics argue that, rather than eliminating errors, VAR has introduced new ambiguities and has, in some instances, increased the potential for controversial decisions.
“I just don’t think referees in the stadium anymore have the authority they used to to make decisions,” Ange added. “They just go, ‘You know what, I’ll just wait and see what the bloke down the road thinks’. It’s a shame, I don’t like it but it’s here to stay and I’ve got to accept it like everyone else.”
While VAR was implemented to ensure greater accuracy in decision-making, its execution has been contentious, with debates about its impact on the game’s integrity and enjoyment. The technology’s role in slowing down the game and potentially altering critical outcomes has become a significant point of contention. The Coventry comeback curtailed by a toe picked up by VAR was a particular low point down south.
As football continues to evolve with technological advancements, the debate around VAR’s role in the sport remains a hot topic. Stakeholders, including managers, players, and fans, call for a reevaluation of how technology should be integrated without detracting from the essence of the game.
Ange Postecoglou’s criticism serves as a significant marker in the ongoing discussion about technology in football, reflecting a nostalgia for the traditional dynamics of the sport and a challenge to the authorities to refine the system to better serve the game’s true spirit.
There is some corrupt reason why footballing authorities are insisting on this VAR system and ensuring its installation everywhere. It’s ruining football, but very useful if certain people want certain results from certain fixtures. The entire footballing world should unite with one voice in refusal to accept it any more. It should be ripped out and binned as an experiment gone bad.