It’s truly baffling that Bruno Fernandes hasn’t been suspended for Manchester United following his controversial incident. The fact that there were six officials involved – four at the stadium and two in the VAR room – who reviewed the situation twice, only for the decision to be overturned days later, raises serious concerns about the entire process. How can so many officials, all trained and responsible for upholding the integrity of the game, collectively make such an error? This is not just a simple mistake; it’s a glaring example of how flawed the current system is.
The situation has turned into a complete farce, showcasing how VAR is falling short of its intended purpose. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology was introduced to bring more accuracy and fairness to the game by reducing human error. Yet, in cases like this, where Fernandes’ red card was overturned by a panel days after the incident, the system appears to be failing. What’s even more surprising is that the Football Association (FA) panel that reversed the red card decision was composed of three former players. If their expertise is what ultimately led to the final ruling, it begs the question: why aren’t former players in the VAR room itself to provide their insights during the match?
This situation points to a potential need for change. Perhaps it’s time to consider placing former Premier League players in the VAR room to offer their perspective directly. If their knowledge and experience are going to be relied upon to make the final decision anyway, why not incorporate them earlier in the process? It would help bridge the gap between the officials’ interpretations and how players experience the game on the pitch. This could lead to more informed decisions and fewer controversies like the one involving Fernandes.
Of course, not every decision is black and white. Many incidents depend on the subjective judgment of the referee, and even the review process can be complicated. Take, for example, when Michael Oliver handed a red card to Leandro Trossard for kicking the ball away during a match against Manchester City. The decision was reviewed by a five-person Premier League panel. Interestingly, two members of the panel believed that Oliver’s decision was wrong, but luckily for the referee, the other three sided with him. This just shows how difficult it is to get a unanimous agreement on every call, even when multiple perspectives are considered.
This inherent subjectivity highlights a significant flaw within the VAR system: not everyone will agree on every decision, and this disagreement can never be fully resolved. The quest for perfection is unrealistic, and while VAR was meant to remove ambiguity, it sometimes creates even more confusion. When an incident is reviewed multiple times and still produces conflicting interpretations, it makes the entire process seem illogical. VAR can slow the game down and, at times, lead to more frustration than clarity.
Interestingly, this theme of questionable decision-making extends beyond just referees and VAR. Looking at the world of football more broadly, there’s a lesson to be learned in humility, particularly when comparing Birmingham City and their rivals, Aston Villa. As Unai Emery masterfully led Aston Villa to a memorable victory against Bayern Munich, Birmingham captain Krystian Bielik made a bold and somewhat arrogant statement, claiming his team is “too good for League One” and predicting they would “be promoted by March.” Such remarks are not only overly confident but are bound to be noticed by Birmingham’s opponents. You can bet those words will be pinned on the dressing room walls of every team Birmingham faces this season.
While it’s important for players to be confident, there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Bielik’s comments could come back to haunt him, especially if Birmingham faces any tough challenges or setbacks in their promotion campaign. Meanwhile, Aston Villa, under the calm and calculated leadership of Emery, continues to focus on getting results on the pitch rather than making bold claims off of it. Birmingham might want to take a page from their rivals’ book and show a bit more humility, letting their football do the talking.
Ultimately, whether it’s controversial VAR decisions or overconfident player statements, football continues to show that the game is as much about psychology and perception as it is about skill and tactics. The drama off the pitch can be just as intriguing as the action on it, and as this season unfolds, both Manchester United’s handling of Bruno Fernandes and Birmingham City’s bold declarations will surely provide plenty of ta
lking points.