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Actually, VAR is very good

We’ve spent about half a season now being told that VAR is somewhere between controversial and downright awful. It slows down the game. The parameters for changing on-field calls are either far too strict (offside decisions) and far too vague (everything else). All of that sounds fair enough. But I’m here to tell you a simple and incontrovertible truth: actually, VAR is good. Great, even.

Can I prove this? Only too easily.

Exhibit the first, from the case of M. Alonso v. P. Gazzaniga:

VAR awards Chelsea a penalty after Marcos Alonso is fouled Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Exhibit the second, from A. Rudiger vs. Son H. M.:

Son Heung-Min is sent off after a VAR check for kicking Antonio Rudiger. Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

There is, of course, other evidence I could reach for. But I don’t like wasting people’s time, and these two figures should be more than enough to convince even the most skeptical Chelsea supporters. VAR, in fact, is very, very good*.

*I reserve the right to demand that VAR be cast into a pit of eternal flames the next time a decision goes against Chelsea.

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