English FA Keeps Mute Over Controversial Use Of The VAR In FA Cup Last-Eight

The English FA (Football Association) has refused to admit it was wrong no to use the VAR system in all of the FA Cup’s quarter-finals.

Swansea’s Liberty Stadium was the first ground to trial the VAR for the Premier League in 2017 and it was an issue of concern when Swansea lost to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter finals – having taken a 2-0 first half lead – due to goals which could have likely being ruled out by the system.

At the beginning of this year’s campaign, the FA announced that it would continue its trial of the VAR in the Cup but only at current Premier League stadiums, as many English Football League stadiums lacked the wherewithal to provide it yet.

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While this may be considered as a right decision by several on the basis of consistency, some pundits have come out to express their grievances with such a decision stating that it does not make sense if the FA was trying to ensure the best form of officiating in the competition.

Swansea themselves were displeased and in a statement issued by the club’s spokesman, it was stated that the club was surprised by VAR’s absence.

“We are in the dark ourselves over the non-use of VAR here and that it would only be used in Premier League stadiums,” he said.

“That seems a bit strange considering we were there for seven years and all the technology is placed here to accommodate it.”

Their grievance could be upheld considering that the system at trialled on their stadium once as far back as October 2017 indicating that their grounds, the Liberty Stadium had what it takes to provide the VAR.

Sergio Aguero’s goal which led to the crashing out of Swansea from the FA Cup was seen to be offside from replays and could have been easily ruled out if the VAR was in place.