Women's Super League's verdict on when VAR could be introduced to the game
The return of the WSL saw the standard of refereeing in the women's game under the spotlight yet again.
Man Utd and Aston Villa's thrilling clash at Villa Park featured a harsh-looking red card for Kirsty Hanson against her old club, which left a fuming Carla Ward to call for increased professionalisation in officiating post-match. In the same game, Maya Le Tissier was perhaps fortunate the lack of of VAR meant she escaped punishment for a strong challenge on Villa forward Ebony Salmon
Later in the day, Chelsea's Guro Reiten was denied a perfectly good goal when the ball was deemed to have not crossed the line in their 2-1 win over Spurs on Sunday evening, replays showing it was well over. Lauren James scored soon after meaning the incident didn't alter the outcome.
But in her Sky Sports post-match interview Emma Hayes was not happy, blasting the lack of technology following the Reiten ghost goal incident, calling for both VAR and goalline technology. In the wake of the latest incidents, could the WSL soon need to implement VAR to help officials with on-field decision making?
We have seen the system used before the in the women's game. It was present at both the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup finals and Euro 2022, as well as the latter stages of last season's Women's Champions League.
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The most recent World Cup in Australia, also featured semi-automated offsides and referees announcing their VAR review decision to the stadium crowd via microphone.
Chelsea's pre-season friendly with Roma at Kingsmeadow also trialled 'VAR lite' - an alternative system approved in 2021 by FIFA and IFAB which will use fewer cameras and people, but still allows decisions to be reviewed. The system is designed to be used in competitions with smaller stadiums.
But what are the chances of it been used in the domestic top flight, similarly to how it is used in the men's Premier League? Before the season started FA Women's Director of Football Baroness Sue Campbell and WSL League Chair Dawn Airey took questions from the media following a presentation.
Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA's Director of Women's Football will leave her job in the new year (Mark Atkins/ Getty Images)They were asked about the potential of bringing in VAR at some point in the coming years, with Campbell stating it will happen at some stage.
"We've trialled VAR lite," she said. "As it's called, it means less cameras. The reality is the infrastructure isn't there at many of the women's games, so you're talking about a huge investment.
"But I do think, at the end of the day, it has to come in. So, we just got to find a way through it.
"That's why commercial investment is so critical to grow the game in the right way. So yeah, it will happen. But gosh, I can't give you a time scale."
The question was then raised of whether VAR could be installed for some games but not every single game. It was a similar set-up in the FA Cup last season when technology wasn't used for the quarter or semi-finals but was in-play for the final at Wembley.
"That's the difficult bit, isn't it, and I don't know if that's fair," added Baroness Campbell. "So we've got to really think about that. I think for one off games, like we did the friendly, test it, it's great.
"I think you either bring it in or you don't, I think it's a bit tough to have it in some places and not others.
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"It might be that we can position things like the two semi-finals as well as the final of the FA Cup at grounds that all have VAR infrastructure. But I think to have it in one place and not another, I've got a feeling somebody would have my neck on a stick."
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