Il VAR It is now one of the most discussed innovations in the history of football: you either love it or hate it. There does not seem to be any middle ground, since, obviously, much depends on the context of its application. However, it seems that - beyond the specific controversies on each case of use - the FIFA and FIGP federations are intent on further modifying the rules that concern it: in detail, the introduction of the old concept of “light” on offside It would be the cornerstone of the new modification in progress.
VAR: the most recent controversies
The VAR, created to clarify and support the referee for a more correct management of his role and of the match, seems that, at times, it gives rise to more controversy than sporting acceptance, with even important variations in the results to the detriment of the championship results, but also of sports betting (it is also discussed on www.sportaza.eu)The last time there was some animosity in the interpretations of the VAR was during Inter-Juve.
On the one hand, one thinks of a penalty awarded in a forced manner, following a contact deemed involuntary and all in all innocent; on the other hand, Juventus speaks of a correct and faithful application of the VAR regulation, specifically designed to see where the referee's eye does not reach and call him for a more correct evaluation. From here to interpreting the intention of the contact - once it is recorded that it has occurred - there is a long way to go, depending on the fans, as always.
Whether it is contact in the case of awarding a penalty, or recording the possible offside of an attacking player with the consequent cancellation of the action, VAR remains an essential tool for correctly evaluating, hopefully beyond any possibility of refereeing error, the work of the teams and their members, leading to - whether we like it or not - a more balanced gaming experience.
This may not always be pleasing, and the occasions for contrasts over the different interpretations of VAR that have ended up on the front pages are now numerous: from Inter-Juve to Spain-France, from the Italian championship to the Nations League, the cases in which the application of the VAR mechanism causes a stir are increasingly varied, thus requiring a further rethinking of its rules.
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Applying the concept of light to VAR
This is just a proposal that still needs to be tested and the final decision has yet to be made: if the VAR rules need to be changed again, it will probably mark a second revolution in football.
The final decision will depend on the outcome of some tests that FIFA has already requested from the FIGC, based precisely on the reintroduction of the concept of light for the definition or otherwise of a possible offside. The tests will be conducted in National Under 18 Championship, with Lega Pro assistants ready to define elements in favor and elements against this possible improvement to be made to the VAR. Only at the end of the under 18 championship, therefore, will it be possible to establish whether to definitively propose the application of the light to the VAR to the Ifab, that is, the body that deals with the modifications to the football regulations: in case of acceptance, the football rules they could suffer a significant jolt.
In detail, VAR can no longer be applied for cancel offside goals, but only if this offside is not significant: therefore, summary elements will no longer be valid for its evaluation, such as part of the attacker's body positioned beyond the last defender (sometimes, with considerable excesses of meticulousness, based on the evaluation of half a shoe and part of a shoulder beyond the line of the player of the defending team); consequently, to decree the offside, a greater distance between the attacker and the defensive line will be necessary.
The concept of “light” in offside refers precisely to this minimum distance: if you fall within the range of light, any goal scored by the attacking team can be validated by the referee; if you exceed the minimum light distance, then the referee can signal offside and cancel the action. Consequently, measurements to the millimeter (literally) will no longer be necessary to define offside itself: it only remains to be seen, now, in the event that the IFAB accepts FIFA's proposal, whether the demonization of VAR will become just a memory or, on the contrary, whether this tool will be destined to give rise to new controversies and conflicts between fans and football clubs.
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