Ligue 1 side Brest lodge offical request to scrap VAR

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Ligue 1 side Brest lodge offical request to scrap VAR

Ayoola Kelechi 15:14 - 18.01.2024

With growing concerns over the state of officiating in Ligue 1, Brest have made an official request to the league's organising body to scrap VAR

Stade Brestois, a prominent football club in France, has taken an unprecedented step by officially requesting the removal of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system from football matches.

This request has been made to the Ligue de Football Professionnelle (LFP), the governing body of professional football leagues in France.

Brest's Frustrations on VAR

The club's decision was significantly influenced by a series of controversial decisions during their matches, particularly a 2-0 defeat to AS Monaco. The Brest management and players expressed considerable dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions in this match, which they felt were unfairly influenced by VAR.

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According to reports from Get French Football News, Brest's manager, Eric Roy, and other officials have been vocal in their criticism of VAR's implementation.

Brest maager Eric Roy confronts a referee during a Ligue 1 match against Montpellier | Imago
Brest maager Eric Roy confronts a referee during a Ligue 1 match against Montpellier | Imago

They argue that the system's inconsistent application has led to unfair outcomes in matches that are closely contested.

Ligue 1 clubs grow frustrated with VAR

Their sentiments reflect a broader debate within the football community about the effectiveness and fairness of VAR with several clubs in France and Europe in General unhappy with the refereeing tool.

VAR has come under added scrutiny in recent months | Imago
VAR has come under added scrutiny in recent months | Imago

Despite Brest's firm stance, as reflected in their official letter to the LFP, the likelihood of this request leading to the elimination of VAR is considered slim. However, this move by Stade Brestois has brought significant attention to the ongoing discussions about the role and impact of technology in football refereeing.

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