It’s fair to say that Mikel Arteta and Arsenal fans have been endlessly frustrated by decisions made by both VAR and Premier League referees this season.
Arsenal have received more red cards than any other team in England’s top flight this season, as many as the rest of the current top four combined.
Of course, the latest episode in that saga was the red card that Myles Lewis-Skelly received in Arsenal’s recent 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Thankfully that decision was overturned and Myles Lewis-Skelly starred against Manchester City, a game he would have missed owing to suspension.
It does currently feel as if VAR isn’t being used to its full capacity – there are still far too many subjective calls.
Gary Lineker calls for VAR appeal system after Myles Lewis-Skelly red card
That being said, Gary Lineker has presented an idea for a VAR rule change when speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast with Alan Shearer.
Lineker proposed an ‘appeal system’ to be installed, and was then asked how that would have worked when Lewis-Skelly was sent off against Wolves.
Lineker said: “I mean, I’m almost, I’m bored with saying it now. It’s got to come to an appeal system.
“And that drastically reduces the amount of interference that VAR will have, because it will be requested by captain/coach, whoever it is.
“But I think that’s inevitable that that will come at some point. It really has to, because at the moment it’s just tedious.”
Shearer then asked: “What happens, what happens with your appeal system? And if you go back to that, you know, the red card that was given to Arsenal against Wolves.
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“What happens when you say, right, well, I’m appealing against that system, VAR, that challenge, I should say, or that tackle, or that decision.
“VAR backed the referee up and agreed with his decision. And you, but you as a team, you’ve still got that one appeal or however many you’ve got, and you say, right, I’m appealing that decision.”
Lineker: “Yeah, you appeal that decision, then it does go to VAR, or, and probably it’s best that the referee also goes to a monitor.
“And then if he’s made a quick error, and I honestly think that he would have gone to and probably changed his mind when he saw it in slow motion, they will still get things wrong.
“I mean, because, you know, we can’t all agree on every decision, that’s impossible, but what it will do, it will massively reduce the amount of times that the game has to stop.”
Norweigan clubs voting to scrap VAR similar reason
Interestingly, the duo were asked the question on the back of clubs in Norway’s top flight currently voting to scrap VAR, arguing that it disrupts the flow of the game.
Norway’s FA have come to VAR’s defence on that occasion, with a decision expected to be made on retaining or getting rid of the system in March.
Of course, Arsenal fans might jovially suggest that they would have often run out of appeals this season such has been their luck.
Declan Rice’s red was also criticised earlier in the season, as well as Leandro Trossard’s second yellow against Manchester City.
It’s certainly an interesting debate, and whichever side you are on, it does feel that something needs to be altered to get the best of the system, which has been costly.
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