World Cup: VAR can signify the end of parking the bus strategy

The video assistant referee (VAR) sparks not only the change in the way the referee officiates the match, but also changes the way a team is going to defend.

We’ve had mixed opinions and long-heated discussions about the way VAR affects the referee’s performance in a match. Whether VAR is effective or not, isn’t the question of this article but how it forces teams to adjust their approaches to a match is.

There has been an outburst amount of penalty awarded in this World Cup. Twenty-eight at the time of writing, to be exact. By comparison, there were only 13 penalties given in the previous edition, and 15 in South Africa.

Nine penalties were given for the handball offense. Seven awarded for obstruction fouls. Ten given after reviews.

FIFA bragging rights?

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FIFA can brag itself for how VAR has led to a lot of calls in difficult circumstances where it is impossible for the referee to make a logical and cognitive call, which has had a significant impact of the penalty spike in this year’s World Cup.

The reason I mentioned penalty calls resulted from handballs or obstructing offenses is normally considered too “soft” to call. There isn’t a clear qualification to classify a handball act being deliberate or accidental, therefore the referee usually gives the benefit of the doubt to make the call.

We have seen Marcos Rojo escaped a penalty call that could have led to Argentina’s elimination come a match earlier, just 24 hours after Cedric being the unfortunate offender in a similar situation. Those are the calls that don’t and won’t have a definitive answer because everybody’s discretion of a handball offense isn’t similar to each other.

Likewise, a penalty for an obstruction offense usually ends up with the defending team storming to the referee and waving their hands to protest. When the ball is pumped to the 18-yard box, the attacker and the defender will engage in a mini-wrestling matchup where they grapple and shove each other to gain the upper hand in the aerial battle. That battle usually lasts too quickly and happens too far away for the referee to see. Again, the referee will get the benefit of the doubt to make the call.

Once the ball finds the defender’s hand or the striker goes down from contact, the referee will have the incentive to consider a penalty call. With the aid from VAR, the referee will be more certain with his decision knowing that he will be bailed out at some point. Because the referee’s decision can only be reversed if he has made a clear and obvious error, it is unlikely that he will rescind his decision in a 50/50 call.

The game-changing effects

As football matches turns into the 90-minute attack vs defense drill, where one team controls the possession and the other is content to sit deep, patiently waiting for a break – the VAR can be the weapon against the latter.

The defender has a lot more burden on his shoulder because of this. His job is to deny the opposition, but he has to do it with more care. In the past, he would get away with a handball or a little push to the striker.

Now, he won’t get past the VAR who has vision access to everywhere on the pitch. No matter how careful the defender is, there will always be one occasion when he will accidentally handle the ball or put a hand on the striker. The risk will be much greater if his team is pushed back to its penalty area, and the difference of a football match can come from one foul too many.

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As more football leagues have decided to use the VAR in the upcoming years, this can signal a change in the way the team is going to defend. We have seen the potential beginning of the end of the possession-based football this World Cup considering favorites Germany, Spain and Argentina’s early exit.

We might also see the end of the low-block defending strategy – à la parking the bus, considering how VAR has made it too difficult for a team to comfortably sit deep and nullify the opposing team.

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