Wright View: As Wolves fans protest, West Brom are involved in perfect advert for VAR v Sunderland
Danny Wright is a lifelong West Brom fan thanks to his dad, who grew up idolising Cyrille Regis and John Wile. Danny’s had to endure the likes of Victor Anichebe and Diego Lugano. He’s now putting his passion for the Albion into words with a regular fan view for West Brom News…
Disclaimer: I don’t want VAR in the EFL, or any level of professional football.
But the referees in the EFL seem to be doing everything they can to ensure the powers that be start introducing it into the Championship as soon as possible after the controversy that ensued at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Just hours before Wolves fans were protesting against VAR in their draw with Nottingham Forest [Mirror], EFL referee Darren Bond and his team of officials were ruling out legitimate goals and failing to send off players for potentially season-ending scissor tackles.
West Brom lost to the better team at Sunderland on Saturday. I’m not here to moan about that at all.
Carlos Corberan’s men looked sluggish, devoid of ideas and switched off in the defensive moments where it really mattered.
Sunderland, in fact, should have been a goal ahead much sooner than they were because Jobe Bellingham’s goal was ruled out for him being offside, despite Cedric Kipre playing him at least a couple of yards on.
That’s a big enough injustice for Sunderland fans but the biggest injustice in the match came not long after when Dan Ballard inflicted what looks to be a serious injury on West Brom forward Josh Maja.
The 24-year-old was left writhing in agony on the ground after Ballard’s needless – and unnecessarily rough – challenge forced the Albion man to literally crumble.
Both of Ballard’s legs were off the ground, he went in from behind, he didn’t win the ball, it endangered Maja’s safety and, ultimately, ended his game with the striker limping off in a lot of pain.
Bond showed Ballard a yellow card.
The same punishment for purposely handling the ball, time-wasting or saying a naughty word to a man with a whistle.
Of course, Ballard then went on to score Sunderland’s opening goal to rub salt further in the wounds of West Brom but the worst thing for Corberan now is that Maja looks set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Because this has happened to him already this season.
In mid-September, the ex-Bordeaux striker was on the wrong end of a heavy challenge from Bristol City’s Kal Naismith in the penalty area.
Even though it was an injury-inducing challenge that left Maja sidelined for 10 Championship matches, all penalty appeals were waved away.
Again, I don’t want VAR in the Premier League, the EFL, the World Cup or anything. It’s rancid.
But while the option exists for it to be in the EFL, refereeing horror shows like Bond’s are going to continue to be the perfect advert in support of it.
But what was Bond even doing refereeing this game anyway?
The Lancashire-based ref had officiated just six matches all season before West Brom met Sunderland on Wearside on Saturday 9 December.
He’d only been in charge of one game since September and that was an FA Cup second-round tie between Oxford United and Grimsby Town.
Ultimately, he had a bad day at the office. But his bad day can lead to a talented young player like Maja missing the rest of the season because the way that his leg bent under the weight of Ballard’s challenge was horrific.
If referees at this level cannot get control of matches and dish out the correct punishments when they’re merited, VAR will eventually come in, unfortunately.
In other West Brom news, Tony Brown has launched an accusation as this Sunderland attacker after an incident v Albion.