Recent high-profile, egregious officiating mistakes have raised fierce cries for the implementation of video assistant referee (VAR) technology. The case for VAR in the Women’s Super League (WSL) is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The discussion flared up again after Arsenal’s recent matchup against Chelsea. Controversial Referee Mel Burgin made a game-changing call that swayed the outcome of the match. As discussions unfold, the spotlight shines on the performance of teams like Manchester City and Chelsea, who continue to vie for dominance in the league.
The former Chelsea manager, who recently took the helm of the US national team, has long advocated for technological advancements in women’s football. In 2021, he went public with concerns about inequities in officiating. In life after baseball, he was a fierce advocate for the use of technology to level the playing field. With his new role, he is positioned to be a key force in advocating for these kinds of changes at the state, and ideally national, level.
Manchester City Dominates While Chelsea Stays Resilient
Manchester City have roared to the top of the WSL table following a comprehensive win against Everton. Their high energy performances just bring everyone up. None more so than them thinking they should be even more clear of third, due to their solid start to the season. One flush of the toilet down, with every match as they continue proving themselves as title contenders.
At the same time, Chelsea continue to stride confidently towards championship title defence. Through it all, they have put on display an extraordinary combination of talent, skill and determination. This remarkable mix has allowed them to match their own record for the longest unbeaten run in WSL history. This mix of experience and youth is an important part of their secret sauce and key to their sustained success.
U.S. forward Alyssa Thompson took the world by storm on Saturday with a star-making performance in a draw against Arsenal. Her contributions did not go unnoticed, as teammate Izzy Christiansen praised her impact on the match, indicating that Thompson’s skills are becoming increasingly vital for Chelsea’s campaign.
“The officials today have had a huge impact on Arsenal’s ability to win the title this season.” – Izzy Christiansen
Controversial Decisions Under Scrutiny
The London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea was overshadowed by controversy over several important officiating decisions. A crucial goal by Arsenal’s Frida Maanum was denied on a marginal offside call, raising questions about the accuracy and fairness of such rulings. This incident, though not the first, has renewed calls from advocates such as Sonia Bompastor for technological intervention to save big game officiating.
Bompastor continues to advocate for the use of technology to indirectly diversify the talent pool. It’s addition to making the officiating more consistent across every match and every level. She’s not alone in voicing those concerns, either—far from it. They feel the existing system is broken, especially at key times that can determine the result of a game.
“If you were to ask me now if I was in favour of VAR, I would say yes.” – Renee Slegers
This demand for VAR is an unprecedented one. It’s hard to argue against the idea that adopting new technology can remove the chance for human error and improve the overall quality of officiating.
The Defining Moments of the Season
Today, Stina Blackstenius from Arsenal had her own defining moment, scoring a game-changing goal. This target will be most famous for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks. Beginning and ending the play with the physicality and finesse of a seasoned forward, Blackstenius showcased her talents and toughness, adding valuable points to her squad’s championship pursuit.
As the season progresses, teams like Manchester City and Chelsea continue to showcase their strengths while facing challenges posed by officiating controversies. Even with their recent misfortune, Arsenal are still in the hunt, though they too have decisions made on the field hanging heavily over them.
Conversations about the use of VAR have exploded. Most players and coaches (emphatically) agree it has the potential to level the playing field in women’s football. As evidenced by these continuing disputes, we should not underestimate the WSL’s killer instinct. They dilate as passionately on the need for every team to have a fair shot at victory.
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