No VAR? Absence of technology mars FA Cup

The weekend’s FA Cup fourth-round action saw a major shock as English Premier League leaders Liverpool suffered an embarrassing exit at the hands of the Championship’s bottom side Plymouth Argyle. Here are three key talking points.

Absence shows VAR’s value

As rock band Cinderella’s 1988 tune Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone) suggests, we often appreciate the value of something only when it is not around.

That was the case with the VAR (video assistant referee) and goal-line technology, especially in a weekend of controversial decisions in the FA Cup.

The VAR, which was introduced to the Premier League in the 2019-20 season, will be deployed only from the fifth round of the FA Cup in March. The Football Association made the decision “due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required”.

In Leicester City’s

2-1 away defeat by Manchester United on Feb 7,

the late winner by Harry Maguire would have been chalked off by VAR as he was clearly offside.

The following day, Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock’s shot when Birmingham City were 1-0 up seemed to have been blocked by goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, only for the assistant referee to signal that the ball had fully crossed the line even though replays were inconclusive.

As there was no goal-line technology, the goal stood and Newcastle

went on to win 3-2 at St Andrew’s stadium.

Over at Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers defender Dominic Hyam’s 19th-minute header at 0-0 was disallowed for offside and the hosts eventually lost 2-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Replays suggested that Hyam was onside.

And so the weekend is a poignant reminder that for all our weekly grumbles about VAR, without it, some decisions are not any better either. Perhaps it is time to appreciate VAR.

The next time you find yourself complaining about VAR delays, spare a thought for Leicester’s fans. You would not have wanted to be in their shoes.

There is some magic left

The 2024-25 FA Cup had been largely forgettable, devoid of the romance that had long been associated with the competition. But the fourth round delivered.

On Feb 8, third-tier Leyton Orient’s Jamie Donley executed a stupendous 40-metre chip that sailed over Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, hit the underside of the bar and went into goal off Ortega’s back. It gave the League One side a shock lead and while they lost 2-1, Donley’s effort will go down as an all-time FA Cup wonder strike.

The following day, the second tier’s bottom side Plymouth pulled off an enormous shock by

knocking Premier League leaders Liverpool out with a 1-0 win.

The Reds faithful will point to how manager Arne Slot had sent out a bunch of second stringers, but Liverpool still had the likes of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa in attack, while Darwin Nunez was brought on just before the hour mark.

The combined cost of these four players is around £165 million (S$277 million). In contrast, Plymouth’s starting XI were assembled for about £1.8 million, excluding Mustapha Bundu and Callum Wright, whose transfer fees remain undisclosed.

Liverpool supporters will forget this match easily if they go on to win the Premier League, but this day will live long in Plymouth fans’ memories.

Heat is on Maresca

After being

knocked out by Brighton & Hove Albion,

Chelsea’s campaign is now down to the Premier League – where they are fourth – and the Uefa Conference League.

So the pressure is on to clinch an automatic Champions League qualifying spot.

Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, had a dizzying transfer window as they spent over £210 million, but it is not looking like a season to remember for the Blues.

While they are favourites in the Conference League, it would be scant consolation due to its lack of competitiveness. The Blues have been able to win matches in Europe’s third-tier competition convincingly despite fielding heavily under-strength line-ups. 

Given that Chelsea were even talked about as title contenders at one point of the season, the slide has been stark, with just three victories – one of which was against Morecambe in the FA Cup – in their last 10 matches.

This has been largely down to the dip in form of key players like goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who has dropped several clangers in recent matches, and striker Nicolas Jackson, who has not scored in his last eight Premier League games.

Even their talisman Cole Palmer, who has 14 goals and six assists in all competitions this season, has struggled of late, with no goals or assists in his last three outings.

With the level of investment made in the squad, a failure to clinch domestic trophies would represent a poor return. If they fail to hang on to fourth spot, in true Chelsea style, Maresca’s head will be on the chopping block.