The Premier League’s paying spectators are being left in the dark by ‘ridiculous’ and lengthy VAR checks, such as the benchmark of five minutes and 37 seconds during West Ham’s draw against Aston Villa on Sunday.
That was the view of It’s All Kicking Off panel Lee Clayton, Ian Ladyman and Chris Sutton after officials took some time to ban Tomas Soucek’s ‘winner’ for handball.
Players from both teams and more than 62,000 paying fans inside the London Stadium remained standing as VAR manager Tony Harrington checked several angles of the incident.
In the end, Harrington sent referee Jarred Gillett to the pitchside monitor and eventually the goal was scored as the match ended 1-1.
Clayton, Mail Sport’s global editor and West Ham season ticket holder, described how supporters feel about not having a clue what’s going on for so long during what has been the longest control VAR in Premier League history.
West Ham manager David Moyes confronts referee Jarred Gillett after a late ‘winner’ from Tomas Soucek was disallowed for handball following a VAR check five minutes and 37 seconds.
The players and more than 62,000 paying spectators in the London Stadium have no idea what is happening as VAR Tony Harrington checks several replays.
Ian Ladyman (left) and Chris Sutton (right) debate ‘ridiculous’ VAR control on Sunday
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He said: “You’re in the stadium, I’m behind the goal at the other end of the pitch with my friends. I have kids next to me and an older man behind me and people are just like, “What’s going on?” You have no idea.
“Five minutes and 37 seconds of waiting for someone to make a decision is a long time, it’s a ridiculous amount of time.
“Once again, paying customers are being ignored, with no one considering the impact this has on them. There is no communication, whereas in rugby there is.
“You’re in a state-of-the-art Premier League stadium with giant screens everywhere and you’re the last person to know exactly what happened.”
After Football editor Ladyman described it as an “information vacuum”, Clayton stressed that he was not aware of the full situation until later that evening and said that Football had to learn the lessons of rugby union.
“You’re there like a lemon, you turn to each other and you’re like ‘what’s going on?'” he said.
“I have no problem with the decision that was made by the referee or the VAR. I had to wait until the match on day 2 last night to see what happened or have any understanding of what happened because you have no idea and no idea when you are in the stadium.
“When we debate these things, the PGMOL comes in and talks about the impact it has on the referee and the Premier League talks about the impact it has on the product.
Referee Gillett was eventually sent to the VAR screen before ruling out the goal.
Soucek was judged to have handled the ball as he and Jarrod Bowen forced it over the line.
Soucek reacts with frustration after longest VAR check in Premier League history was against him and West Ham on Sunday
“I’m talking about the fact that if you’re in the stadium, if you’ve paid for your ticket, I think it’s outrageous that you’re being treated this way. Why can’t you be treated like an adult?
“Look at the rugby, big day of the Six Nations on Saturday night, there was a controversial decision, a critical try for Ireland and the Scottish defensive work was sensational.
“You could only see this with close-ups on the camera. If you are in the stadium, this is shared with you.
“You understand the decision the referee makes because you see it at the same time, you are trusted with that information.
“The Premier League and everyone involved in the meaning and importance of the Premier League, because we all care about it, need to realize that.
In contrast, rugby union officials keep the crowd informed during the video refereeing process.
There were controversial moments when Ireland beat Scotland to win the Six Nations.
“This is completely unacceptable and, in my opinion, if it takes more than three minutes to make a decision, then stick to the decision on the pitch.”
Ladyman agreed that the suggestion to cut the three minutes could well have consequences.
He said: “I think that’s a really important point. As a West Ham fan you accept, having seen in today’s match, that it was a handball.
“I think it was a clear handball and you, after watching it again, think it was a clear handball.
“It’s not that, it’s the interruption of the flow of the afternoon, it’s the interruption of the flow of the experience and enjoyment of a paying customer at a football match .
Villa fans watch nervously during VAR monitoring as their team faces the prospect of defeat
“I think the point you’re making here, about the three minute limit, is a really, really good one, because ultimately you’re only supposed to point out really clear and obvious errors and if that takes you have six minutes, it shouldn’t be so obvious.
Former England striker Sutton added: “I think the most important thing about what you said, Lee, is why can’t football copy rugby?”
“So the fans inside the stadium can understand what is happening and what is going on in the referee’s mind, as well as what the debate is about.
“How can rugby achieve this and football not?”