The Carabao Cup round of 16 will not feature Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Southampton and Brentford secured spots in the quarter-finals by defeating Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday. On Wednesday night, Brighton will host Liverpool in the early kick-off. Additionally, Arsenal will face Preston North End, Manchester United will play Leicester City, Chelsea will clash with Newcastle, Aston Villa will battle Crystal Palace, and Tottenham Hotspur will lock horns with Manchester City.
VAR will not be in operation due to competition rules, shedding light on the on-field match officials. The technology was initially introduced in the 2018/19 season for testing before its eventual introduction in the Premier League the following season. Initially used in every round of the tournament, VAR was excluded from the proceedings beginning in the 2019/20 season. The English Football League decided to ditch VAR before the semi-final matches to ensure fairness among all teams.
As a result, VAR will only be available during the Carabao Cup semi-finals and the final at Wembley Stadium. This rule remains in place despite many Championship stadiums installing VAR since then. Premier League managers have criticized this decision, especially when facing teams with the system installed. Jurgen Klopp voiced his dissatisfaction in December 2022 when VAR was not used in Liverpool’s match against Manchester City in the fourth round.
Similarly, Andoni Iraola pointed out that the absence of VAR cost Bournemouth a place in the third-round after West Ham’s late winner appeared to come off Jarrod Bowen’s elbow. The Cherries boss expressed frustration over the impact of these VAR decisions on their competition outcomes.
In light of these discussions, the absence of VAR in certain matches has sparked debate among football stakeholders. Managers and players have highlighted the importance of consistency and fairness in decision-making, especially in crucial games. The debate around VAR’s presence or absence continues to impact match outcomes and shape the future of refereeing in football.
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