VAR was written into the Laws of the Game by IFAB in 2018 but discussions over its introduction had been developing over a number of years.
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Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has given his opinion about what he thinks of the Video Assistant Referee system. It has been one of football’s biggest developments since his retirement as the manager of the Old Trafford club. The 79-year-old has seen the technology being used already at several matches this season. During the latest episode of UTD Podcast, Sir Alex suggested that he preferred the game not to be disrupted. “It’s a different world. It’s only eight years [since I retired]. Look at VAR. To me, the most talked about issue in football,” the former manager said.
“And yet, on Saturday [during the 4-1 win over Newcastle], VAR was not used once. Supporters will enjoy that better, the game not stopping for two or three minutes at a time.” VAR was written into the Laws of the Game by IFAB in 2018 but discussions over its introduction had been developing over a number of years. “It was the genesis with UEFA at the time when I was in my last year. They asked the managers about it, about doing the VAR,” Sir Alex added.
“They experimented in Italy in the Super Cup, I think, and I don’t think any manager actually supported it. The game’s alright, you know? The problem with VAR and any of the things it changes, FIFA come up with ideas. Like having the ball in the centre of the pitch at kick-off and you have to pass it back. You tell me what good that does? Or passing the ball in the penalty box from the goalkeepers? It’s like gimmicks.
“The goalline technology, that stayed in and no-one’s complained one bit about it. Now there’s your situation with VAR being there and it’s not going to go away. We’ll eventually get used to it and stop complaining.”
The former Manchester United manager came to the defence of the referees, saying most of the time they get it correct and only sometimes they get the decisions wrong. “The controversy in terms of decisions is always going to be the ref’s performance. For a hundred years, we’ve moaned and groaned about the referee and decisions but we get on with it,” he added.
“It happens and the referee’s got to make a decision. He may be right, he may be wrong. Most of the time he may be right but he sometimes gets it wrong. There’s nothing wrong with that. In VAR, the interpretation is who’s sitting up in that box, discussing it. I think it now shows itself that they get it wrong, too.”
Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson has recently opened up about Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford during a UTD Podcast episode. “It’s fantastic,” enthused Sir Alex. “You saw on that Saturday that it was like Caesar entering Rome after victory. I came, I saw, I conquered. It was fantastic.
“I mean, for anyone who is a United fan, we could have had a million people in there, without doubt, as there were so many outside, hundreds outside. It’s one of these things. When he was here as a kid, his learning process was very, very quick.
“A lot of people said he was a diver and there was a little spell of that but, after that, he was attacking defenders and all he needed was a nudge and he would waltz by them. He would attack with unbelievable speed. I think the increasing knowledge of his game – I think he was born with a desire.”
