VAR absence in FA Cup intensifies debate around technology: Should we keep, reform or remove it?

Keep, reform or remove. We are approaching a crossroads with VAR - and there is a big debate about how we move forward.

The calamitous officiating from Chris Kavanagh and his team in Newcastle's 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round win at Aston Villa distilled perfectly why there is such a split of opinion.

Without VAR in use, usually the litany of 'clear and obvious errors' by the officiating team at Villa Park would be seen as an argument for the technology - and this was not the only game when the referee came under fire.

However, there has not been a widespread conclusion that this is evidence of VAR's negatives outweighing the benefits.

The big errors at Villa Park:

Former Tottenham and Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood told Sky Sports FC that VAR "is here to stay" and believes the existing system should be improved rather than aiming for root-and-branch reform.

"It was a great weekend for the people making the decisions regarding VAR because they can say, 'see, I told you' [because of] these glaring mistakes.

"I feel like the refereeing is getting a bit lazy. They are almost forgetting in the FA Cup there's no second chance. Some of the decisions were just mindboggling."

On the other side of the argument, fans at Villa Park fans were treated to a thrilling contest uninterrupted by lengthy reviews and there was no need for supporters to temper their goal celebrations waiting for a potential check.

Many, including UEFA's referees' chief Roberto Rosetti, believe VAR has become too microscopic and risks going too far. "We love football like it is," Rosetti said last week. Many feel this is a fight to preserve the essence of football.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who described himself as "torn" on the VAR debate, suggested after Saturday's win that officials have become over reliant on the technology.

Howe said: "When VAR is there, there is a tendency to think, 'oh well I won't give that because VAR is there to check it'. Then your decision-making isn't as sharp as it would normally have to be. Maybe there is a difference there.

"I'm always torn on VAR because I love the raw emotion when a goal goes in and you don't see a flag or hear a whistle and you know the goal is going to stand and nobody can take it away from you.

"But, on the other side of that, I was wishing there was VAR for the goal they scored against us - and probably throughout the entire game."

VAR errors rose in the first half of the Premier League season - the Key Match Incidents Panel finding 13 mistakes, three more than at that stage last season - but the overall accuracy of officiating has improved since the technology was introduced six years ago.

Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking after Saturday's defeat, said: "Today it makes sense understanding that VAR is necessary. It's necessary to help the referees."

The VAR conclusion seems to be: can't live with it, can't live without it. So what needs to change?

Alternatives such as the challenges present in cricket are gaining traction because it would potentially stop referees leaning on VAR and limit the number of stoppages in a game.

However, former Premier League official Mark Halsey believes the problem lies with head of referees Howard Webb and says he should be replaced.

"Webb has had three years in the role - and it's not been good enough", Halsey told The Sun. "Everyone has a shelf-life and the time has come for him to move on.

"This is no different to when Ruben Amorim or Thomas Frank got sacked for poor results. There has been a decline in the standard of officiating - and things are getting worse."

Somehow, a weekend that should have been the perfect advert for VAR has intensified the debate. The Premier League returns this week and the technology will be a big focus once again.

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