A little more of a 30,000ft view of VAR is that it can’t be scrapped now. It’s pulled back the curtain and exposed what everyone already knew—English refs are, at best, unfit or at worst, purposefully obtuse (reads: biased).

It’s now vitally important that their continual incorrect applications or subjective interpretations be on blast for everyone to see until that point of no return is reached and something substantial is done at higher levels to address this.

The fact that rules have been reconfigured mid-season speaks to either the rules being vague or that their application is so egregious or subjective that they scramble to clarify to try and save face for those officials.

It’s breaking down into two distinct categories in a lot of these contentious decisions: the actual rules and the refs rules. And by and large, the officials in situ and in the booth will ensure that they cover each other at the expense of all else.

With clubs now requesting that certain refs be taken off the whistle in their matches is a clear indication that they have no faith in them or their ability to correctly officiate. It’s the first step into demanding accountability.

It will more than likely fall flat on its face. And will until this becomes the stance of the larger clubs.