VAR only for 'clear and obvious' mistakes says top rules chief

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) should only overturn on-field decisions when re has been a "clear and obvious" error, according to one of football's leading international rules officials. VAR has proved highly controversial since it was introduced into Premier League this season. A particular source of concern has revolved around offside calls.

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Last weekend saw rwich, Brighton, Sheffield United, Wolves, Brighton and Crystal Palace all have goals disallowed by marginal VAR rulings amid doubts over wher available techlogy is accurate eugh to make such fractional calls. Players and manrs have also questioned wher system should t be used to reverse an on-field decision that appears correct to naked eye, a view that received support on Monday from general secretary of International Football Association Board (IFAB) -- sport's ultimate rule-making body. Lukas Brud, while t addressing specific incidents in English football, said IFAB guidance advises VAR should only be used to correct clear errors also applied to offside.

"Clear and obvious still remains -- it's an important principle," Brud said in comments reported by British media.

"re should t be a lot of time spent to find something marginal.

"If you spend minutes trying to identify wher it is offside or t, n it's t clear and obvious and original decision should stand," he added.

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Wolves captain Cor Coady was frustrated when his side were denied what seemed a legitimate equaliser just before half-time against runaway league leaders Liverpool on Sunday when Pedro Neto's effort was chalked off because wing-back Jonny was deemed to be offside in build-up. Wolves eventually lost 1-0 at Anfield and Coady told BBC afterwards: "A lot of people are going to tell me that y have come to right decision and y might have. But what is it, an armpit that's offside, or a toe, or something like that?" 

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't helping' 

Meanwhile Sheffield United manr Chris Wilder was anyed after VAR denied his side a goal against champions Manchester City -- fifth time it has happened to Blades this season. "Yet again we had ar goal disallowed by VAR," he said. "That's about eight or nine over weekend, this is t a situation helping game." 

Even City manr Pep Guardiola, whose side won 2-0, said VAR was "a big mess", with former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss adding: "Hopefully next season it can do better." But introduction of VAR into Scottish football cant come quickly eugh for Glasgow giants Rangers. Sunday saw Steven Gerrard's side win 2-1 away to arch-rivals and reigning champions Celtic as y moved to within two points of Scottish Premiership leaders. Gers boss Gerrard's lone criticism of referee Kevin Clancy centred on official t sending off Celtic defender Christopher Jullien in added time in an incident that saw Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos see red for a second yellow card.

Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson, while insisting he was t criticising referees, said Monday pace of modern game made it "extremely difficult to make split-second calls with degree of certainty required". He added: "We believe introduction of VAR would help referees ermously and reduce number of wrong decisions which sometimes have a dramatic effect on outcome of matches."

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