VAR and TMO in sport are good things. They back up referees with evidence, cut out errors, and—largely—make sure the right side wins for the right reasons. They’ve also taken some of the heat off officials, curbed a few theatrical collapses, and opened the door to genuine transparency for fans. In short, they’ve made sport fairer, sharper, and a lot harder to cheat.
But for all the virtues of the tech, those who implement it need to be held to better account—mainly for the crime of time. It made me smile when player clocks were introduced to keep the game moving… but what about dithering refs? The time taken on some reviews is absurd. Given the social abuse some have experienced, their caution is understandable, but we’re fast reaching the point where referees defer to tech instead of trusting their instincts—and the glorious, unfiltered joy of a score is lost while we wait to find out what the footage thinks.
Sport runs on rhythm, emotion, and momentum; nothing kills that faster than an endless review. Rugby’s been here before. In the 2007 World Cup Final, Mark Cueto’s would-be try against South Africa went upstairs and stayed there for what was actually seven minutes—but felt like fifteen if you were in the stands. On a cold, wet night, it was as unfair on the crowd as it was on the players. The ultimate call was right… probably. But by then, the energy had drained out of the game. Football’s no better—how many goals have been celebrated twice, or not at all, while VAR debates whether a striker’s toenail was offside?
If players have to comply with a timer, why not the officials? Limit the replays. If several of you can’t call it within five looks, go with what feels logical and fair. The best use of technology in sport isn’t about perfection—it’s about speed, clarity, fairness, and confidence.
Get it right, get it quick, and get the game moving again. Because when the review takes longer than the replay, the score might be right but the point has been missed.
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