"VAR Austria" is a thing of the past and still remains a point of contention

In the Swiss newspaper "Blick", former top referee Urs Meier was recently quoted, taking a critical view of the development.

"FIFA wants to eliminate incorrect decisions as much as possible and advance technology, also with the help of AI."

According to Meier, this would give referees less and less influence on the game. "Is that the right way? I don't think so, because only a human with football expertise and knowledge of human nature can officiate a game," says Meier.

DFB VAR relocates from "the cellar" in Cologne to Frankfurt

The DFB is moving its VAR center from "the cellar" in Cologne to the DFB Campus in Frankfurt, into an office six times larger. This is not without intention.

Meier suspects in the German-language Swiss daily newspaper: "Eventually, even a free-kick outside the penalty area will be checked on screen."

"VAR was introduced as a kind of airbag for referees," says Meier, wishing "that it works ten out of ten times, not just six times."

Therefore, for the former top referee, it is clear: "VAR is not football's savior."

IFAB corrects FIFA

Meier has never before experienced the International Football Association Board (IFAB) – football's rule-makers – feeling compelled to intervene with a correction a week after the World Cup concluded, due to an incorrect rule interpretation in the Embolo case – point 3 of the VAR protocol: mistaken identity of a player.

"Generally, the rules were not cleanly implemented at this World Cup," finds Meier, who officiated matches at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. "For a pull-back that normally results in a yellow card, not even a warning was issued. Too much was let go."

At the European association, a re-evaluation has begun, possibly also due to the World Cup events - report.

Originally, VAR was introduced to prevent clear incorrect decisions that caused discussions for weeks or even years.

The Wembley Goal in the 1966 World Cup final between England and Germany, or Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England, are now household names for every football fan in this regard.

Goal-line technology works

What Meier likes? "Goal-line technology works perfectly."

Discussions about offside goals have also been reduced to a minimum.

"Everything that is black or white works," says Meier, drawing a vivid comparison from cars: "We are now also used to the beeping sound when parking. But if the technology fails once and this is not the case, we are lost."

UEFA Head of Referees pulls the plug

Roberto Rosetti, UEFA's head of referees, clearly expresses his ideas in an interview on Law 5.

In the interest of transparency, UEFA has also provided a new website for all football enthusiasts, CLEAR LINE - click here for the link - to better understand VAR decisions.

Incidentally, the refereeing grandees in Austria – Hungarian Viktor Kassai and Ali Hofmann – have gone the opposite way.

Since the end of May, "VAR Austria" has quietly and secretly ceased operations. This means there are no more explanations for controversial situations. Thus, WSG player Hinterseer is still waiting for an explanation as to why the penalty foul in Altach was disallowed.

Did those responsible find it too much, constantly being confronted with the fact that many explanations were not comprehensible? 

It would have been quite interesting to analyze the explanations for some scenes in the first two rounds.

Controversial Decisions in Rounds 1 and 2

In LASK vs. GAK, referee Gishamer did not issue a red card for a penalty when the attacker was pulled back – keyword: denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

In WAC vs. Austria, VAR Ciochirca saw no reason to intervene when a penalty was awarded to Wolfsberg for handball. Several experts and former colleagues saw the arm very close to the body; moreover, the ball was deflected, and the "natural position of the arm" was given.

It is also unclear whether Wolfsberg's disallowed goal after VAR intervention due to a "foul" during the attack was a clear and obvious error?

As already mentioned, referee Gishamer, from a perfect distance and clear view in Altach vs. WSG Tirol, awarded a penalty for holding. Nevertheless, VAR Schüttengruber called colleague Gishamer to the monitor – was that a clear and obvious error?

Hartberg vs. Sturm Graz: Penalty decision by Weinberger. Although the ball is touched, the defender pulls his foot away by sliding in with his body. Did the images shown clearly contradict the referee? VAR Kijas was apparently of this opinion. 

The waiting should end

In any case, the frustrations over what feels like endlessly long checks of offside positions are understandable.

If it is apparently difficult for the VAR to prove with the lines whether it was offside or not (most recently seen in Austria vs. LASK by VAR Semler), then what was decided on the pitch should apply.

This would also lead to greater acceptance. Because millimeter decisions are often doubted, especially since the lines, including the moment the ball is played, are still determined by the VAR. 

Harkam on continuous duty

Styrian referee Alexander Harkam celebrates a special anniversary on Sunday.

After officiating as referee in the opening match of Wolfsberg vs. Austria (with some controversial situations), he was allowed to serve as the 4th official in the 2nd round match of Austria vs. LASK.

Someone at the ÖFB probably thought 'third time's the charm' when making the assignments. Harkam is immediately back in action as the 4th official in Round 3 for Austria's away match in Hartberg.

It will be interesting to see if Harkam reappears with the Violets in Austria's home match against WSG Tirol – three positions would be available: referee, 4th official, or VAR.