Introduction
Palace owner Steve Parish has interviewed with BBC Sport and said “I don’t think the VAR system is right, I think it’s broken. It needs to improve massively.” Parish is not the only one with these sentiments – former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry also voiced his concerns about the VAR system after their defeat to Manchester United last weekend.
When it comes to sports, there is a lot of excitement and suspense that comes along with live events. Sadly, some of that excitement can be ruined by poor officiating. In recent weeks, there have been a number of high-profile incidents where incorrect calls have led to major upset and controversy. One such incident occurred on Sunday night when Crystal Palace faced Manchester United in the Premier League.
The VAR System and its Problems
After the game against Manchester United, Crystal Palace’s owner, Steve Parish, questioned whether the VAR system was broken. Parish said that he thought the goal that was awarded to Manchester United in the 87th minute was incorrect because he felt that Oumar Niasse should have been sent off for a foul on Wilfried Zaha. Parish also said that he thought the referee blew his whistle for a foul on Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford just before the goal was scored, but the goal was allowed to stand. Parish’s comments come after several high-profile controversies involving VAR this season. Earlier this month, Liverpool were given a controversial penalty against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals after a VAR review proved inconclusive. And earlier this season, Chelsea were punished with a 3-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur after complaints from both clubs about what appeared to be a poor decision by VAR. The criticisms of VAR are not new, but they seem to be getting louder as the system becomes more heavily used.
The Reaction of Crystal Palace’s Owner to the Loss Against Manchester United
Following Crystal Palace’s loss to Manchester United, the owner of the club, Tony Pulis, questioned whether the VAR system was broken. Pulis stated that he thought that Manchester United should have been given a penalty in the 89th minute after Andros Townsend was fouled by Victor Lindelof.
Pulis added that he thought that the referee should have given a red card to Manchester United’s Paul Pogba for his headbutt on Wilfried Zaha in the first half. These comments suggest that Pulis is not a fan of the VAR system and believes that it has caused Palace to lose too many games this season.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of Crystal Palace’s 3-1 loss to Manchester United, club owner Steve Parish questioned whether the VAR system was broken. Parish cited several controversial calls that went against his side, including a disallowed goal by Wilfried Zaha and an offside call that led to a penalty kick awarded to United. He said: “I’m not convinced with all the decisions in our favour and I think there needs to be some examination of the use of VAR.” This statement is significant because it shows that even owners of clubs who have benefited from VAR are questioning its efficacy. While Parish’s stance may not reflect the majority opinion among fans or commentators, it highlights some of the concerns that still exist about how this technology is being used.