Simon Jordan clashes with West Brom supporter live on air over new VAR verdict
Simon Jordan has clashed with one West Brom supporter live on air over the potential introduction of VAR in the Championship.
England’s second tier doesn’t currently utilise the video assistant referee and EFL chief Trevor Birch has suggested there are no plans to introduce the technology to the division.
While talkSPORT host and pundit Jordan suggested he would push for VAR if he were an owner in the Championship, one Albion fan was quick to suggest it would be a bad idea at this stage.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Wednesday (23 October, 12:24) Ray the Baggies fan said: “I’m an avid listener to your programme and it’s the first time I’m going to disagree with Simon.
“We got relegated a few years back, disappointing to come out of the Premiership, however, I’ve seen the flip side of not having VAR. When a goal goes in, everyone automatically looks at the linesperson, if the flag stays down it’s a goal, you get to enjoy it and embrace it.
“Decisions go for you and decisions go against you. I also wanted to comment on Simon saying everyone wants to be in the Premiership. If there was a bottomless pit of money for any team that went up in there and you were allowed to spend, yes we would.
“However, we are restricted. Any team now, it’s not a fair system and it’s protecting the top-tier clubs so you can’t compete. The Championship every season is so competitive and it’s fair so we do enjoy it. You ask most fans now, they don’t want VAR in that league and I for one don’t want it.
Jordan hit back saying: “If VAR was to work as one would hope it would which was to remove the problems around spontaneity by going to an automated process, things like offside are not a process of debate, they are instantaneously rectified in that moment in the same way we make decisions with flags going up in your league, would that take away some of your resistance to technology getting it right more often than not?”
Ray responded: “Again Simon, for us when you get something that is subjective, you can influence a decision. The possibility of that is, that you can say it was definitely a handball or a free kick or whatever, I could disagree with you.
“No one is right, no one is wrong. It’s just subjective. So you can’t remove the subjectivity of decisions. People keep using the word corrupt, I don’t say corrupt. You can influence a decision now which can make it look like the bigger teams are getting decisions and the smaller teams aren’t.
“Remove that and it’s a fair playing field. We’ve seen some VAR decisions and been left wondering how that has been allowed to be given.”
Jordan replied: “Ray’s entirely entitled to his point of view. I would suggest to you that the raging arguments throughout football predominantly through the media that represent the fans at times is that subjectivity is something they’re not prepared to tolerate.
“Ultimately, VAR moves away from subjectivity in offside situations.”
When do West Brom next play at The Hawthorns?
West Brom fans have already seen both sides of this argument. Albion have played in the Premier League with VAR and the Championship without it and it is pretty clear what the majority of supporters prefer.
As a fan inside The Hawthorns, life in the second tier is much more enjoyable as not only is Carlos Corberan’s side more competitive, but they also don’t have to wait for every single goal to be checked by several different officials.
While introducing VAR would help iron out the major mistakes that can frustrate fans in the Championship, it would only create several more frustrations for fans up and down the country instead.
If and when the technology becomes good enough to avoid major errors, as Jordan suggests, maybe then fans would welcome its introduction.
At this stage, however, it seems like an unnecessary risk to take. If the best officials in the country can’t get it right, what hope do the EFL referees and VARs have?
In other West Brom news, Swansea City made a new Adam Reach decision after he left The Hawthorns this summer
For more West Brom news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.