VAR goes unused in entire Spanish Super Cup tournament

FC Barcelona’s Spanish Tremendous Cup triumph in Saudi Arabia delivered drama, objectives, and yet one more Clasico chapter to dissect. As all the time with a event of this profile, the main focus rapidly shifted from the soccer itself to the margins and people wonderful particulars that always form narratives lengthy after the medals are handed out. This time, the margins have been quieter than anybody anticipated.

For a contest that includes three high-stakes matches, fierce rivalries, and practically 300 minutes of soccer, the ambiance was surprisingly managed. Tempers flared solely sporadically, the video games flowed with out fixed interruptions, and the referees allowed play to proceed with an uncommon diploma of confidence. It was noticeable, even when it wasn’t instantly apparent why. Solely as soon as the event concluded did the total image change into clear.

Not a single VAR evaluation befell throughout your complete Spanish Tremendous Cup. Neither in Barcelona’s semi-final in opposition to Athletic Membership, nor within the Madrid derby, nor within the remaining itself did any referee step over to the monitor. For a contemporary event performed beneath intense scrutiny, that statistic is relatively putting.

In response to Mundo Deportivo, the reason lies in a transparent directive from the CTA that on-field selections should prevail, with VAR intervention stored to an absolute minimal. Even in moments that usually set off a evaluation, the officers stood by their preliminary calls.

The obvious instance got here within the remaining, when Frenkie de Jong was proven a straight pink card for his problem on Kylian Mbappe, a call that will normally invite a re-evaluation. As an alternative, the referee’s name stood with out session.

The disciplinary numbers reinforce this pattern. Throughout three matches, solely eight yellow playing cards have been proven, a mean of simply 2.6 per recreation. Barcelona’s semi-final noticed no playing cards in any respect, whereas the Madrid derby produced solely two, each linked to a heated touchline incident. The ultimate accounted for 75% of all cautions, but even then, the general tone remained restrained.

From a Barcelona perspective, this refereeing method is price reflecting on. On one hand, it allowed the workforce to play with rhythm and keep away from the stop-start chaos that VAR can generally create. Barça thrived in open video games, particularly in opposition to Athletic Membership, the place uninterrupted move suited Flick’s system completely.

Alternatively, minimal intervention inevitably raises questions on consistency and safety. Sure actions went unreviewed, inserting higher bodily duty on gamers like Pedri and De Jong.

Finally, Barcelona tailored higher than anybody else. They accepted the usual, managed the chance, and lifted the trophy regardless. However the Tremendous Cup has quietly reopened a wider debate about whether or not soccer is healthier when referees belief themselves or when expertise is able to step in.

In Saudi Arabia, the reply was clear. Whether or not it stays so again in Spain is one other matter totally.