Michael Burgess: VAR technology creating uneasy feeling

Referee Daniel Elder seen watching the replays during the VAR referral during the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 game between Wellington Phoenix vs Newcastle Jets. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

One week into the A League season and there's already an uneasy feeling about the insidious creep of technology.

Usain Bolt was meant to provide the sideshow in the first few weeks of this season, but it might be VAR.

That was always the concern, ever since Football Federation Australia decided to adopt it so whole heartedly last season.

It provided the biggest talking point out of the grand final – with the technology breakdown missing the offside in the lead up to Melbourne Victory's goal – and affected two games in the opening round last weekend.

Melbourne City were given a penalty which was barely a free kick, and both of the VAR-influenced decisions in the Phoenix's 2-1 win over Newcastle has major doubts over them, especially from a footballing point of view.

But maybe that is what the A League wants?

More talking points, more controversy, more drama and endless replays.

But they need to be careful what they wish for.

Football is less suited to the use of technology to provide insight and solutions than almost any other team sport.

Often you are none the wiser, even after watching ten replays frame by frame, and the man with the whistle still has the best view in the house.

It kills the flow and tempo of the game, which is football's big advantage over many other codes.

The use of technology to help human officials is great in principle, and the presence of the goal line monitoring system has enhanced the sport.

But we need to tread carefully with VAR.

It might have worked okay in the World Cup – though even then there were some obvious blunders, just ask any Serbian – but it's a different story in Australasia.

The tournament in Russia had the pick of the best referees across the world, and highly qualified officials to assist them. In contrast, we don't know who is sitting in the A League bunker, for what is an incredibly complex and difficult job.

And it's only going to get harder.

The biggest problem with VAR is the effect it will have on referee and player behaviour.

There's a danger that referees will begin to doubt themselves, and disregard their well honed instincts and experience for what the television monitor on the side of the pitch is supposedly telling them.

Meanwhile players, whose are solely focused on winning, will take every advantage they can.

We've seen it happen in the NRL and Super Rugby, especially with defenders feigning obstruction if they miss, or can't make a tackle on a try bound player.

Expect footballers to make sure there are stoppages just after important moments, so VAR can come into play, and all kinds of dramas and theatrics in the penalty area, as they know it could be forensically checked.

There's no obvious solution – as the gate is open and the horse is already into the neighbouring paddock – but the FFA needs to somehow make sure that the referees can maintain their absolute authority, and the discretion to make decisions as they see fit, rather than being manipulated by the all-seeing eye of technology.