Crystal Palace Chief Steve Parish 'Very Worried' About VAR Being Introduced to the Premier League

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has made it clear that he is against the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and says that it is a

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has made it clear that he is against the introduction of   the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and says that it is a 'dangerous road' to go down. 

VAR has been a subject of controversy in recent times, with trials during FA Cup and Carabao Cup games happening with varying success over the last few months. A decision whether to use the technology during this summer's World Cup in Russia is to be made on Saturday. 

- Raises more question than answers
- Players more susceptible to injuries due to long pauses
- Kills the emotions out of the game
- Destroys the experience of match-going fans#VAR is not the solution.

Or as Mainz fans have put it: "Reclaim the game, switch off VAR!" #TOTROC pic.twitter.com/UQS8dOZmt8

— Felix Tamsut (@ftamsut) February 28, 2018

Speaking at the Sport Industry Breakfast Club on Wednesday (as quoted by the Daily Mail), the Eagles chief gave his view on the introduction of VAR.

"I am very worried about VAR. I hate all those games that stop and start, waiting for a decision, and they don’t necessarily get the decision right." He said.

So now VAR has given Spurs a penalty after a long old wait! Son puts it in and is booked for stopping in his run up! No goal#TOTROC pic.twitter.com/Du4wLYin4m

— 90min (@90min_Football) February 28, 2018

"We’re going down an incredibly dangerous road with that. My real problem is that we’ve got it for five decisions at the moment, but I can’t see any end to it. You know the answer for everything is going to be more VAR."

Rugby introduced their version of VAR, known as TMO (Television Match Official) in 2001, and Parish insists that the addition of the technology has made the sport less interesting.

Get rid of VAR asap! Ruining the best game in the world, it wasn’t broke so need to fix something that doesn’t need fixing. Let’s refs make mistakes but just make them explain decisions after games! #VAR #shambles

— Stephen Warnock⚽️📺🎙 (@StephenWarnock3) February 28, 2018

He added. "I don’t see a point of having it for five things when you’re still going to get massive injustices. I remember when rugby introduced Television Match Officials. I just lost interest in it."

It is expected that officials will decide to use VAR during the world cup, when they meet in Zurich on Saturday. However, it is still to be seen if VAR has a long-term future in the English game.