VAR review prompts calls for clearer rules

An editorial look at Eze s disallowed free kick, Guéhi s near wall impact, and Senesi s red card decision in a weekend of VAR decisions.

VAR Review Highlights Close Calls in Premier League Weekend

Crystal Palace opened the weekend with a goal from Eberechi Eze from a 13th minute free kick. The goal was disallowed after VAR ruled an infringement in the wall. Marc Guéhi had moved Moisés Caicedo into the wall, creating a space that affected the free kick. The decision shows how officials apply the one metre rule in a fast restart situation. The debate centers on whether VAR should intervene in wall proximity, given past periods when such infringements were rarely called.

Liverpool also faced a VAR moment. Marcos Senesi intercepted a pass and appeared to commit a handball that could deny a goal scoring chance. The VAR team considered DOGSO but did not send Senesi off. The decision drew attention to how the governing standard is applied in the middle of the pitch. Other incidents in the match, including penalty checks and near calls, added to a weekend of close scrutiny of refereeing and VAR influence on the game.

The weekend underscores a key issue for the game: VAR is used to enforce rules, but the rules themselves are not always clear in real time. The wall rule and the DOGSO standard hinge on thresholds that fans struggle to measure. When referees step in, it can restore fairness; when they stay out, it can fuel frustration. The result is a game that feels both more precise and more unpredictable. Clear, consistent guidelines and better communication with players and fans could reduce the back-and-forth that follows each decision. The challenge is to keep the flow of football while protecting the integrity of the laws.

Highlights

Officiating will keep evolving as the game asks for clarity and fairness.