Gian Piero Gasperini did not mince his words as he attacked the usage of Video Assistant Referee, calling it ‘a dangerous tool that affects results’.
VAR was introduced to Serie A in the 2017-18 season in order to help ensure the correct decisions are made by on-pitch referees during the game. The system still leaves room for interpretation in regards to fouls and offsides, and is often a source of debate amongst fans and pundits alike.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia today, Gasperini expressed his rage towards VAR and his desire to see it removed.
“The Malinovskyi episode is just the latest. I’m still angry, VAR has become a very dangerous tool that affects the results. Unfortunately, it’s used in situations that are very clear, which then become distorted.
“You don’t understand when the referee decides and when VAR decides. This makes you think negatively, and it’s a bad thing, the worst that can happen to football.
“I hope that the English fans who had the Super League cancelled, will also blow up the VAR system, which is a tool that if badly used really creates great dangers for football.”
VAR is an incredibly divisive piece of technology that always causes debates amongst followers of football, with one side pointing to the increased application of the rules as a positive thing, whilst others suggest that it ruins the magic of live football and leads to over-examination of minor incidents.
The system is used across football now, with it appearing in everything from the World Cup and European Championships to the Champions League and Serie A.