Anthony Onifade

Mon 8 January 2024 9:44, UK

Jeff Stelling has branded the decision to have VAR at some FA Cup games “a joke” after the recent Everton controversy involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s sending-off against Crystal Palace.

Calvert-Lewin was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Nathaniel Clyne (4 January) in the 79th minute of their 0-0 stalemate at Selhurst Park after on-field referee Chris Kavanagh had been advised to review the incident on a pitchside monitor after an intervention from video assistant referee Michael Salisbury.

BBC Sport journalist Shamoon Hafeez tweeted on Friday (5 January) that the Toffees are considering appealing the red card as the Englishman faces a three-game ban after receiving the first sending-off of his career.

And speaking on TalkSPORT live on air (8 January, 6:15 am), Stelling shared his reaction to the “bonkers” controversy and believes it is time they have VAR at all of the FA Cup games rather than just those matches that are played at Premier League club grounds.

“Nobody is talking about any of the decisions, right or wrong, but they are still talking about Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Thursday night when VAR was involved,” he said.

“That’s bonkers as well, you’ve got to have VAR at all of the games, or none of the games, it’s a joke.”

Really?

It was a dreadful decision from both VAR and the referee as Calvert-Lewin’s tackle looked nowhere near one which looked like “excessive” or reckless force. It was a clean one and the Everton man now faces undeserved punishment for it.

While there was slight contact made with the defender’s leg, it wasn’t reckless and out of control, and it almost certainly wasn’t a “clear and obvious” error by Kavanagh to not send him off originally.

Once again, we have seen a game controlled by VAR in the wrong way and it is ruining the sport. In real-time, Calvert-Lewin’s tackle was clean but when footage like that can be slowed down, it will always look worse.

In most aspects, the use of VAR is ruining the sport which means Stelling’s suggestion won’t leave those in the leagues lower than the Premier League particularly happy.

The FA Cup weekend threw up yet more brilliant games, without the use or need for VAR and the state of uncertainty over certain decisions does add to the intrigue of games so there’s no need to tarnish such a decorated tradition by having the technology at every game, some of the lower league clubs may not even have the resources or remit to utilise it at their stadiums.

It’s an understandable suggestion but one which must not be followed through. To give Stelling’s suggestion some solace, the use of the technology should be scrapped until the semi-finals of the competition in all fairness.

In other Everton news, Paul Brown has mooted a new contract for an exit-linked Toffees player.