The use of VAR is a great thing; it’s a necessary development in the game. If you find someone who disputes that, you’ve probably found someone who doesn’t really understand how the system works. However, as the World Cup demonstrated, it can be great while still inviting contentious debate. The system is there to help referees, but it’s still that humanoid umpire making the final call.
Regardless, one point of discussion that’ll always remain is with regards to the application of VAR to remedy “clear and obvious errors.” This clause is basically soccer’s ambiguous response to the NFL’s unfathomable catch rule, when super slow-mo replay made it impossible to really comprehend football’s most basic action, that of securing the ball.
The “clear and obvious” verbiage says we’re not going to examine every little thing dating back to time immemorial. We’re only going to rectify what’s heinously wrong and clearly within the decision making spectrum of black or white.
In the 53rd minute of Atlanta United’s Eastern Conference Final matchup with the New York Red Bulls, the Red Bulls appeared to have scored the equalizer through Bradley Wright-Phillips.
The Red Bulls knew it.
GOAL! BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS!1-1 #ATLvRBNY | #OurTime | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/687dOqLzXt
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) November 25, 2018
Atlanta knew it.
53' | Red Bulls goal.#ATLUTD 1-1 @NewYorkRedBulls
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) November 25, 2018
And everyone on the pitch seemed to know it. There weren’t any wild protests from United players or goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
But then the goal went to video review. The 70,000 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium went from shockingly hushed to bemusedly so. On ESPN, both Adrian Healey and Taylor Twellman fumbled for words. They asked us to look at one player and one part of the play followed by another, but they couldn’t pinpoint the possible transgression.
Finally, it was whispered — and then vehemently agreed upon — that Alex Muyl was guilty of interfering with Brad Guzan from an offside position.
Bradley Wright-Phillips scores a vital away goal for the Red Bull's. The play is however under review.
— HotSpot Soccer (@HotSpotSoccer) November 25, 2018
BWP's goal has been called back, no goal! Alex Muyl was considered to be screening Brad Guzan's view. Thoughts?
— HotSpot Soccer (@HotSpotSoccer) November 25, 2018
As Twellman and Healey then started repeating: “by the letter of the law” it was the right call. If we drop the whole “clear and obvious error” use of VAR and instead go with “the letter of the law,” then sure. Muyl is interfering with Guzan’s line of sight there.
But again, aren’t we supposed to be avoiding the latter approach?
The play would prove pivotal as Atlanta would score two more goals to win the first leg 3-0. Here are all three Atlanta goals.
WHAT A WAY TO TAKE THE LEAD
Jeff Larentowicz @JosefMartinez17 https://t.co/0IRULT0999— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) November 25, 2018
MAKE. IT. TWO.
Miggy Julian Franco https://t.co/udTwdW6Q1J— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) November 25, 2018
AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET @TitoVillalba15 makes it 3!!! https://t.co/07t1zC9yZB
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) November 26, 2018
Atlanta put on quite a show.
Tifos are more fun when everyone is involved pic.twitter.com/0wYtqENY4p
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) November 25, 2018
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