VAR makes debut in English football without any major controversy as Brighton beat Crystal Palace

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The Video Assistant Referee - or VAR - was set up for the first time in an English competitive game at the Amex Stadium on Monday night for Brighton's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup. 

VAR's debut was mostly quiet, until Glenn Murray's late winning goal for Brighton sparked debate over why it wasn't used to see if the ball struck his arm or not.

As replays were shown on the big screens at the Amex Stadium, the Crystal Palace away supporters demanded a review which never came.

Andre Marriner was the man in the middle during VAR's debut at the Amex on Monday night

Glenn Murray's winner was the only real moment of contention during the FA Cup clash

Referee Andre Marriner was backed by assistant Neil Swarbrick, who was watching the game on television in the Premier League's west London studio, and former referee Graham Poll believes they made the right call on the late goal.

Officials were able to use between 12 and 15 camera angles - plus four cameras in each goal - to try to ensure the right decision was made during Brighton's win over Palace but opted not to use the technology for Murray's winner.

VAR applies to four key areas - goals, red cards, penalties or cases of mistaken identity - which disrupt the flow of the game.

The on-field referee can also request a pitch-side review of an incident or decision from the VAR if he himself is unsure about a decision. This could have happened in the Nottingham Forest v Arsenal game, where Jon Moss and his assistants appeared unsure if Kieran Dowell had touched the ball twice as he slipped over taking a penalty.

The VAR watched the game away from the stadium, with a bank of TV feeds from the match

There was no feed available of the video review either for TV viewers or those in the ground

There was no feed available of the video review either for watchers on TV or for those inside the stadium - it is kept for the referees only.

Fans will therefore only know if the video is in use by observing the referees' signal - drawing a rectangle in the air with his fingers - as well as a 'VAR Review' sign appearing on stadium screens, and the delays to play.

Also controversial is the fact a review can take around two minutes. Clear errors are usually quite obvious and the time is often shorter, but there have been major problems in Italy and Germany, where some are unconvinced by the technology. 

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri complained that the game was 'turning into baseball' - on average, a VAR call is made every three games where it is available.

Former referee Mike Riley inspects the Video Assistant Referee system in London

Video Assistant Referee - VAR - was available for the first time in an English competitive game

An off-field official can inform the referee about incidents relating to goals and red cards

Graham Poll on VAR's debut 

After all the build-up the video referee had a fairly quiet introduction to the English game on Monday night.

The only real incident of note, aside from the routine check after the first two goals, was Murray's late winning goal which some suggested struck his arm.

However I don't think the ball hit Murray's arm and it's not a clear and obvious error so they wouldn't need to intervene on that.  

The ball did not appear to strike Murray's arm however and it looked to be the right decision

The goal stood and Brighton sealed a 2-1 win over Palace to book their place in the next round

So the match actually accurately reflected what the video referee is about. It is only used if absolutely necessary and if a decision is obviously incorrect – the video referee will not intervene in grey areas.

In football we must always try and maintain the referee’s integrity, so it won’t just be used freely for the sake of it. 

There will be lots of games, like this one, where it isn’t required particularly as we are fortunate to have a high standard of officiating in this country.

Ferdinand and Gerrard on VAR 

Rio Ferdinand, speaking on BT Sport's coverage of the match, said the images were inconclusive on whether it was handball or not by Murray.

‘You'll have all the fans from Crystal Palace saying "why wasn't the other angle looked at?"', Ferdinand said. 

'We've got the Palace fans in the away end here who were asking us whether it was handball or not and the pictures we saw were kind of inconclusive in some respects. 

'I thought initially it was definitely from off his knee but if we had another angle maybe you'd be able to see the other side if it's off his arm as well. The debate is still there. 

Brighton players celebrate after Murray's goal secured a 2-1 victory over derby rivals Palace

'We've got human error, we've got the visuals and the different pictures after and it's still inconclusive.’

His co-pundit Steven Gerrard said he couldn't tell if the ball brushed Murray's arm or not and insisted it was crucial that VAR had every angle available to make the right calls on the big decisions. 

‘I think it definitely clipped his knee first,' he told BT Sport. 'Whether it brushed his arm or not but I don't think there was any intention there from me the goal should have stood and they've got it right.

Marriner fielded questions from Crystal Palace players after Murray's late winning goal

'But it is important that VAR have every single angle possible to make these big decisions. People are going to say you haven't seen it from that angle and then it keeps the debate going and the argument there's no point having it.’

Ferdinand added: 'It has to be cleared up completely and there can't be left no grey areas. If you've got the actual replays there that should just be "that's it". 

'Everyone should get all of the different pictures for them to make a decision as once and final that everyone can agree on but when you don't get certain pictures and people at home are saying "why are the people, the powers at be getting the right pictures?"'