Controversy erupts in the Women's Super League, with disallowed goals and missed cards prompting calls for support for referees. The VAR debate continues, with some arguing that a more lenient approach is needed to alleviate pressure on match officials.
The latest casualty of this VAR-heavy era was Arsenal, who drew 1-1 against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners felt they were denied a crucial win when a potential goal was disallowed due to a VAR decision. Meanwhile, a missed red card for Chelsea's Fran Kirby sparked heated debate on social media.
The controversy took another hit in the Premier League as Manchester United suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Aston Villa. The Villans capitalized on Manchester City's dominance over Everton, securing a hard-fought win that saw them take top spot.
In other news, Manchester City secured a thrilling six-goal victory over London City and Spurs, while West Ham and Liverpool were dealt late heartbreak in their respective matches. North Korea continued to make waves in women's youth football by winning the U17 World Cup, while Kansas City Current struggled to carry their league form into the playoffs.
As the season heats up, the stage is set for Mary Earps' Old Trafford homecoming. Will she be able to lead her team to victory against a strong Manchester United side?
In related news, The Guardian Women's Football Weekly has been shortlisted for the Women's Football Media of the Year Award at the FSA Awards 2025.
The latest casualty of this VAR-heavy era was Arsenal, who drew 1-1 against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners felt they were denied a crucial win when a potential goal was disallowed due to a VAR decision. Meanwhile, a missed red card for Chelsea's Fran Kirby sparked heated debate on social media.
The controversy took another hit in the Premier League as Manchester United suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Aston Villa. The Villans capitalized on Manchester City's dominance over Everton, securing a hard-fought win that saw them take top spot.
In other news, Manchester City secured a thrilling six-goal victory over London City and Spurs, while West Ham and Liverpool were dealt late heartbreak in their respective matches. North Korea continued to make waves in women's youth football by winning the U17 World Cup, while Kansas City Current struggled to carry their league form into the playoffs.
As the season heats up, the stage is set for Mary Earps' Old Trafford homecoming. Will she be able to lead her team to victory against a strong Manchester United side?
In related news, The Guardian Women's Football Weekly has been shortlisted for the Women's Football Media of the Year Award at the FSA Awards 2025.
. While it's true that excessive scrutiny can indeed exert undue pressure on match officials, I think the benefits of VAR far outweigh any perceived drawbacks. The data suggests that the introduction of VAR has led to a significant reduction in errors and controversies, ultimately resulting in a more accurate and fair representation of the game.
. By taking a more measured approach, we can foster a culture of respect and cooperation between teams, officials, and fans alike. Ultimately, this will contribute to a more enjoyable and suspenseful viewing experience for all involved 
! I mean, what's the point of having all that tech if you're just gonna make more mistakes? And don't even get me started on Fran Kirby's red card... was she really that reckless? 
I think VAR is ruining the game already... like it's becoming too robotic and taking away from the human element. The refs should be trusted to make their calls, not some computer program 
. And yeah, a more lenient approach would just lead to more controversy and unnecessary drama... let's keep it real, some mistakes are gonna happen, deal with it! 
I mean, go figure.
I'm totally with Arsenal right now, they were robbed of that win 
! VAR can be so inconsistent and it's always hard to see those crucial calls go against you. Fran Kirby missed a red card? That was a no-brainer 
I mean, can't they just let the refs make a call and be done with it? It's like they're trying to second-guess everything all the time. And now I'm seeing people saying we need to go easy on them because of all the pressure... what's next, are we gonna start giving out participation trophies or something? 
! I mean, I get that it's hard to make calls in real-time, but some decisions are just so out there 
their goal was such a clear call, but that var decision was bs... and fran kirby's red card was a joke lol some ppl r just too hard to deal with 
u go girls! 
also, can't wait for mary earps' old Trafford match, she's got the skills to take on man united 
! i mean, one minute you're celebrating a goal, next minute it's being pulled back due to var... and don't even get me started on those red cards 
- fran kirby got robbed, imo. anyway, love that north korea's youth team is killing the game 
they just got robbed of that win by var 
maybe they just need to tweak that var system a bit 
️ and let the beautiful game shine through 
! It's like, come on guys, make up your minds already? One minute it's a goal, next minute it's not 
.
. It's like they're trying to make referees look bad on purpose! "Let's disallow that goal, but let's give Chelsea a free kick instead" 
. I guess that's one way to get out of a foul!
), it's crazy how much pressure is on these referees. I feel like they're under so much scrutiny already, but now they have to deal with all the VAR drama too? It's like being a superhero, but instead of superpowers, they just have... um... stopwatches 
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! Did you know that in the last Premier League matchweek, there were a total of 74 VAR reviews? That's like watching every single penalty and goal decided by those pesky VAR officials nonstop 
! Meanwhile, Arsenal's draw against Chelsea was their 5th game without a win, putting pressure on coach Lyon to turn things around soon 
.
. We can't keep blaming the officials and expecting everything to be okay... they're human too, after all!