Callum O'Connell

Sun 14 January 2024 16:50, UK

Everton shareholder Mike Parry has fumed at the controversial VAR incident in the Premier League clash against Aston Villa after Alex Moreno’s goal was ruled out for offside.

Parry claimed that decisions like that, whether it was correct or not, is crippling the game for the fans, with the check taking almost five minutes to rule the goal out.

One criticism of VAR has always been that it takes the joy and instant reactions out of the game, and with five-minute checks to rule out a tight offside call, those issues are continuing to take hold.

Taking to Twitter during the game on 14 January, as he shared an image of the decision, Parry ranted: “This is what’s crippling football for fans. Five minutes to figure out if Villa’s strike was on or off. Five minutes to see if Pickford’s view was blocked by an inch off-side player.

“I loved the game more when the ref just used his instinct to rule goal or no goal in your favour or not.”

VAR is killing the passion, regardless of the decision

Yes, this one was in Everton’s favour, so many will turn a blind eye to the fact it took almost five minutes to come to that decision and ignore it because it benefited their side.

It is, however, yet another example of how VAR is dragging the spontaneity and joy from the game in favour of these marginal decisions which the officials absolutely must make sure they get right.

These types of calls are the ones that in years gone by fans from both sides would have debated whether he is on or off, with the evidence proving how tight the call was and taking so long to make the right decision, but both would have moved on from the incident rather than it having to take up such a large chunk of the game.

Yet again, VAR is the main talking point from a Premier League contest and once again it is dragging the fun and the passion away from the game, although it looks unlikely to stop any time soon.

In other Everton news, another Onana exit update has emerged.