In last Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United found themselves on the positive side of a decision from the Video Assistant Referee, a rare occurrence in a season marked by VAR controversies. The tension was palpable as Magpies’ goalkeeper Martin Dubravka collided with Forest’s striker Taiwo Awoniyi, sparking protests from the City Ground faithful. All eyes turned to on-field referee Anthony Taylor, who promptly waved away the appeals, and his decision was later upheld by VAR official Tony Harrington after reviewing multiple replays of the incident. Despite the decision going in their favor, there were those, including Magpies’ legend Alan Shearer and former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, who believed Newcastle had lucked out and should have conceded a penalty.
Indeed, VAR has caused numerous headaches for Newcastle United this season, with several unfavorable decisions going against them. The question begs: what if VAR had never been introduced? How would the current Premier League table look for Newcastle United and their rivals without the influence of VAR? This hypothetical scenario opens the door to a myriad of speculations and discussions about the impact of VAR on the Magpies’ performance and standings in the league.
