Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcántara has voiced his objections to VAR after his side’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal in a pre-season friendly in the U.S.
Rarely has there been a more divisive issue in football than VAR, which saw its introduction in LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, MLS and the Champions League last season following its questionable debut at the World Cup in Russia last summer.
Proponents of the system say it is enriching football while critics say it is destroying the game. And in the corner of the latter is Spain and Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcántara, who voiced his objections to VAR after his side’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal in a pre-season friendly in the U.S.
"I am totally against VAR,” said the former Barcelona player in the mixed zone of the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles.
"I am a football romantic and I like the mischievous part. Without it we wouldn’t have the mythical incidents that have existed throughout football’s history. I think it is an implementation that gives a little more justice, but it takes away from the essence of the game.”
The 28-year-old midfielder also highlighted how it can hinder goal celebrations, as players now must wait to see if the goal will be deemed valid or revised by VAR.
"The first time you're going to celebrate, you're a bit restrained because the first thing you look at is if the referee has given the goal or if he has his hand on his ear,” he said. “Football loses a bit of its grace.”
After defeat to Arsenal in Los Angeles, Thiago and his Bayern team mates will travel to Houston to take on Real Madrid at the NRG Stadium on Saturday.
Wuakoprsz
2
Without VAR, Suarez would win any game
DzekoDienQdoh
0
Me too i'm against VAR
Maxpower
0
VAR makes football like every other sport that has had something like VAR, it removes those unique moments of controversy, those moments that make you so mad, but you never forget because its what made the sport so unique. We're no longer a unique sport, we're just like the rest. I've had many chances go for and against my team, but we move on, because thats how it was, not it all comes down to people complaining about how it doesnt work and how it does work. Because now fools think that the sport is easier, yet teams are still being helped and being played against. The best part about VAR is that it just brings more drama of injury time for me. Other than that I loved the drama of bad calls against and for my team, because its a game for nothing but humans, the only machine was the goal line technology
Yubabkly
0
Am with u on dis
gogermany
0
really if we had vr Madrid couldn't have beaten us the way they did
Vopelmyz
1
I don't support it too
taedikmnry
1
mia san mia we gonna beat Madrid
SIMSV_
4
What about moments when your team gets red cards which are not deserved.. Var is not only about goals..
ferdude
0
Var ruins good football you won’t have those cheeky get away moments that drive you crazy but deep down are the best entertainment and you won’t ever get into fights about was it a goal or was it not a goal You can’t run and celebrate anymore bc you have to wait for the ref to check no more intense matches with crazy yellow cards that should’ve been red cards and red cards that should’ve been yellows And those last minute off side goals and those handballs
sadorsky
1
Then CR7 is against You [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Damjant
2
no var is good but referee's are bad.
krishnademon
5
but if var was used in previous UCL, we should have won 2 more ucl
BabaNla_14
3
Does that make sense????
Athenkosi01
0
and VAR will be totally against you later on
Nice one.
JuniorGunner•••
2
and VAR will be totally against you later on
zif
4
100%VAR
dupabilopy
1
Why?
dakbdilotu
1
i go with u alkantara Thiago,i always wanted u at barca VAR somehow affects good football