After VAR, now the sin bin, really?

Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday December 5, 2023 10:32

Purists are watching as modern trends threaten to decimate the natural feel of the game and introduce totally new dynamics driven by technology. Football in its purest form had at the centre, the acknowledgement and appreciation of human error. But in a bid to regenerate the game, machines are taking over to varying degrees. In 2004, FIFA was forced abandoned an unpopular project, the golden goal which was introduced in 1993. Under the golden goal, which applied in extra time, a team that scored first was declared the winner. This meant that if a team scored even 10seconds into the 30-minute extra time, the game would be over. It killed excitement and led to a cautious approach as teams dreaded conceding.

To their credit, authorities saw the negative impact of the rule and duly withdrew it in 2004. The golden rule still exists in some sports like hockey where it still presumably serves its purpose With football saddled with several contentious decision, a new baby was born in football in 2017 in the form of VAR. It has proved to be a double-edged sword as football tries to navigate its way through this relatively new initiative.

The introduction of VAR was well meaning, but in Europe in particular, it has left a trail of destruction, including some players physically assaulting the VAR monitor. VAR is a machine but entirely subject to interpretation by a human being. So far the outcome has been disastrous, and instead of being the magic bullet, VAR has turned into a torturous monster. It has seemingly spiraled out of control, in sharp contrast to its useful purpose at rugby. Rugby has been using VAR with resounding success, but football is struggling to replicate the same. While fans across the world battle to digest the effects of VAR, authorities in Britain, considered the home of football, are moving ahead with plans to introduce the sin bin in the English Premier League last season.

For the uninitiated, the sin bin is used in rugby where a player who receives a yellow card is sent out to the sin bin for 10minutes before rejoining the action. Rugby has its reasons why it has that rule and drooling football, once again, wants to be the copycat. However, the initiative has been criticized before it kicks off with pundit and former Arsenal footballer, Paul Merson already describing it as 'pathetic' ahead of a trial run next season. Imagine the combination of VAR and the sin bin as technology threatens to take over the beautiful game. Already, celebrating a goal under VAR is now a measured process, taking away the raw natural emotions. The crazy thoughts of the sin-bin should be abandoned forthwith. With VAR at least there was a trigger, but its unclear what value a sin bin would add to football.