The Premier League has become well-acquainted with VAR since introducing it at the start of the season. But not in a good way…
The use of the new technology has been criticised hugely this season, with many from talkSPORT voicing their huge concerns about VAR.
In a memorable rant, Adrian Durham referred to Stockley Park, which is where the video assistant referees are based during Premier League matches, as a ‘comedy club’.
After a match between Chelsea and Tottenham, where Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso was very lucky to escape a red card for a stamp on Cesar Azpilicueta, Durham said: “VAR has just achieved the impossible – it’s got even worse!
“Letting refs run VAR was always a risk, but today has just been laughable.
“Lo Celso stamped on Azpilicueta and I was surprised when Michael Oliver, who is our best ref, didn’t give it but I fell of my chair when the VAR decided it wasn’t a clear and obvious error.
“Saying Lo Celso didn’t have anywhere else to put his foot?! Breathtakingly incorrect!
“And then, with the game still being playing out, Stockley Park admitted they got it wrong and it should have been red.
“Chelsea still won the game, but Stockley Park is now a comedy club, a total joke.”
VAR has brought matches to a halt for long periods on numerous occasions this season, but how many VAR stoppages has each Premier League ground seen in 2019/20?
A study by Bet O’Clock reveals Leicester’s King Power Stadium has had the most reviews this season with players being forced to wait on Stockley Park’s take 21 times.
Below you can see how many VAR reviews each ground in the Premier League has had this term.
How many VAR reviews every PL ground has had in 2019/20
1. King Power Stadium (Leicester) – 21 reviews
=2. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Tottenham) – 19 reviews
=2. Old Trafford (Manchester United) – 19 reviews
=2. Molineux (Wolves) – 19 reviews
5. Amex Stadium (Brighton) – 17 reviews
=6. Carrow Road (Norwich) – 16 reviews
=6. Vicarage Road (Watford) – 16 reviews
=6. London Stadium (West Ham) – 16 reviews
=6. St Mary’s (Southampton) – 16 reviews
10. Villa Park (Aston Villa) – 14 reviews
11. Etihad Stadium (Manchester City) – 13 reviews
=12. Vitality Stadium (Bournemouth) – 12 reviews
=12. Emirates Stadium (Arsenal) – 12 reviews
=12. Anfield (Liverpool) – 12 reviews
15. Goodison Park (Everton) – 11 reviews
=16. Turf Moor (Burnley) – 10 reviews
=16. Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) – 10 reviews
=18. Selhurst Park (Crystal Palace) – 9 reviews
=18. Bramall Lane (Sheffield United) – 9 reviews
20. St James’ Park (Newcastle) – 4 reviews
The Premier League is the home of VAR reviews, with the study also finding that the 15 stadiums with the most reviews from Europe’s big five leagues were all home to clubs from England’s top flight.
Serie A side Sampdoria have the most VAR reviews from Europe’s big five leagues to not play in the Premier League. The Italian outfit rank alongside Everton with eleven reviews.
Newcastle’s St James’ Park has the fewest reviews of any English side this term but there are still 18 teams across the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A with fewer reviews in their home stadiums.
Give COVID-19 the red card
The quicker we work together to stop coronavirus spreading, the sooner we can get back into the pubs, the gyms and stadiums and arenas to see live sport again…
STAY AT HOME. Only leave for the following purposes:
- to shop for basic essentials – only when you really need to
- to do one form of exercise a day – such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with
- for any medical need – for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person
- to travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary
For more info and tips, visit the NHS website.
The government has also issued further detail on what we can do during lockdown.
Everyone should do what they can to stop coronavirus spreading.
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