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How has VAR worked in La Liga? Statistics released by referee's body

VAR is set to be introduced in the Premier League next season

 during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Camp Nou on September 29, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.
Image: VAR was introduced into La Liga in the summer

The use of VAR has been hotly-debated in La Liga in recent weeks, but just how are they getting on with the technology this season?

Introduced at the start of the season, VAR has received a mix response, with several high-profile incidents in recent weeks. But the stats, according to the referee's body in Spain, are positive.

Here, we look at how Spain has been coping with the technology ahead of its use in the Premier League next season…

The LED screen displays a message stating that VAR Checking is in process during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on January 8, 2019 in London, England.
Image: VAR will be introduced into the Premier League next season, but is currently in use in some domestic cup games

What's the latest?

The head of Spain's referee committee on Tuesday hailed the use of VAR in La Liga for significantly reducing the number of errors, while recognising they need to ensure officials use the same criteria as each other.

"Overall it has been very positive and we are satisfied with the performance of the referees, the correct decisions and the integration of VAR," referee's chief Carlos Velasco Carballo told a news conference.

"The essence of football has not been damaged, the number of interventions and time of revisions has preserved the fluidity of the game. But we still need to work on prevention, aggressive play and unifying criteria."

VAR is already in use in La Liga and other leagues around Europe
Image: The referee's body in Spain say the error margin has been reduced to 4.79 per cent thanks to VAR

OK… but how many errors have been reduced?

Velasco Carballo said the technology has been consulted 30 times to determine whether goals should be allowed to stand, leading to 15 goals being disallowed and 15 being awarded.

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Four straight red cards were also shown after the technology was consulted, he added, while conceding that five players escaped red cards due to refereeing errors.

La Liga analysis shows they have registered 397 incidents in the penalty box; Penalties were awarded in 56 plays, 26 errors were made, and 19 of them were corrected by VAR. So the error margin has been reduced to 4.79 per cent thanks to VAR.

"Our objective is to have zero errors and to make that happen the referees and video referees are going to keep working," Velasco Carballo added.

Vinicius Junior Real Madrid v Sevilla
Image: Madrid were left enraged when a penalty appeal was turned down in their recent defeat by Real Sociedad

So why the criticism in recent weeks?

Coaches and players have largely welcomed the use of VAR, although it has been called into question recently following controversial decisions in Real Madrid's 2-0 defeat by Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid's 1-0 win over Levante.

Madrid were left enraged when a penalty appeal was turned down without the technology being consulted when Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior appeared to be tripped in the area.

Levante, meanwhile, issued a strongly worded statement asking for clarification after conceding a penalty for an apparent accidental handball against Atletico which was not reviewed.

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Mauricio Pochettino recently insisted Spain are unhappy with the technology

Ah. The clear and obvious error line?

Correct. And this is important to remember for the Premier League next season. The league's protocol says the technology, introduced for the first time in Spain at the start of this season, should only be consulted when a referee has made a clear error.

"The referee never asks for VAR when he is in doubt, he should officiate as if it doesn't exist. He only goes to the monitor in subjective plays," Carlos Clos Gomez, the director of VAR, said.

"The referee can accept VAR's recommendations or check the play on the screen. The adaptation of VAR in Spain has been positive and quick. But we have to keep working on unifying the criteria, both on the pitch and in the VAR studio."

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