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Is soccer better without VAR? FA Cup shows nobody really knows

Andy Davies, Special to ESPN

created: Feb. 16, 2026, 8:45 a.m. | updated: Feb. 17, 2026, 11:43 a.m.

Every year, the middle rounds of the FA Cup harken back to an age of top-level soccer without VAR -- it is introduced from only the fifth round onward. The contrast between the third and fourth rounds of the FA Cup perfectly shows the issue soccer has: When it comes to VAR, it doesn't know what it wants. Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee, with over 12 seasons on the elite list, working across the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the elite level, he has operated within the VAR space in the Premier League and offers a unique insight into the processes, rationale and protocols that are delivered on a Premier League matchday. Referee's decision: GoalVerdict: It was exactly the kind of goal that would be so easily ruled out in the Premier League.

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