Bruno Fernandes’ unjust red card for a tackle on James Maddison has once again raised questions about how VAR works in the Premier League. After multiple layers of review, from the on-field referee to the VAR, the result was eventually overturned by another panel. This raises the question of how many layers of refereeing are needed before the most accurate decision can be made?
As Bruno attempted to block Maddison, the Man United captain slipped and accidentally touched the sole of his boot to his opponent. Referee Chris Kavanagh did not hesitate to show the red card. VAR referee Peter Bankes then had the opportunity to review the decision with the benefit of replays. However, Bankes did not intervene, believing that the on-field decision did not need to be changed. As a result, the Portuguese midfielder was sent off.
Man United then appealed against Bruno's red card, the FA Disciplinary Committee agreed that referee Kavanagh's decision was wrong. The "Red Devils" star's suspension was lifted and he returned in the next match against Aston Villa.
Bruno's foul, at first glance, appeared to be a dangerous and deliberate tackle. However, upon review, it was clear that the 30-year-old midfielder had slipped and had no ill will towards Maddison. After the match, Bruno sadly shared that Maddison himself had confirmed that it was a foul but "never a red card".
However, in review processes, the VAR and the Disciplinary Committee can reach different conclusions from the same situation. Kavanagh’s decision may have left the VAR unchanged but was not correct enough to pass the Disciplinary Committee. This raises the question: What is the purpose of VAR?
The VAR system was created with the idea that mistakes on the pitch could be corrected with technology and time, thereby achieving absolute accuracy. However, everything has shown that the search for accuracy has not gone anywhere. Even decisions made after reviewing VAR do not bring more certainty to matches. In addition, the fact that the disciplinary committee can overturn the decisions of the main referee and VAR proves that using VAR to end controversies in football is a fantasy.
Football has been chasing absolute accuracy in decisions for years. But since the introduction of VAR, controversy has increased. Many decisions, especially those involving serious fouls, are so subjective that no amount of analysis can give a definitive answer. The decision to overturn Bruno Fernandes’ red card was just as controversial as the original decision by referee Kavanagh or VAR.
In fact, VAR has changed a lot of habits in football. The experience of fans in the stands is no longer the same. The simple connection between a goal and an outburst of joy has been cut off. Instead, there are minutes of waiting in confusion. The moments that fans want to receive, are now stripped of natural emotions by VAR technology.
VAR supporters may argue that the problem is not the technology but the people who control it and that if they were better trained the quality would be much better. But football is full of surprises and emotions. No individual or committee can give the right answer. No VAR training can fill the emotional void of waiting to know whether a stoppage-time goal will be awarded.
Situations like Bruno Fernandes’ red card can ruin a match. Even though the Disciplinary Committee may review the incident and apologise for the mistake, the outcome of the match is already decided.
