Aston Villa: Premier League urged to take action after controversial incident v West Ham United
The Premier League needs to impose a cap on the time it takes for VAR decisions to be made following an incident in the Aston Villa game against West Ham, according to Ty Bracey.
The Hammers thought they had scored a last-minute winner to claim the three points after the ball struck midfielder Tomas Soucek on the arm before bouncing into the net.
That led to the longest-ever VAR check being conducted as it took the officials five minutes and 37 seconds before referee Jarred Gillett eventually ruled the goal out for handball, with the match ending 1-1 at the London Stadium.
Bracey believes that’s far too long for a decision to be made as he argued that it kills the momentum and tempo of games when the players are waiting around for so long.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bracey said: “It shouldn’t take that long. There should most definitely be a cap on it.
“Obviously, it’s the end of the game, the game is dead anyway. But there should be a cap on it really just in general. If it’s not clear and obvious, then it shouldn’t really go to VAR in the first place.
“But it’s killing the momentum and tempo of football for me. I really think something needs to come into force, you can’t be having five minutes to check.
“The players start to stiffen up, they start to get cold. It’s warming up a bit now, but when they’re playing in a few degrees, they start to stiffen up and it kills momentum, especially if we’re having a good half an hour like we were.
“I guess sometimes it’s probably a blessing for a team and other times not, but the process needs to be quicker.”
VAR change needed after West Ham incident against Aston Villa
It certainly isn’t right for VAR to take so long to make a decision when it appeared to be quite obvious that Soucek had touched the ball with his arm on first viewing.
When the game is on a knife edge and there are just a few minutes to go like it was at the London Stadium, the last thing anyone wants is to be waiting around for the officials to make a decision.
As Bracey points out, it kills the momentum and that is precisely what no one wants to see VAR doing as it can spoil the game.
In other Aston Villa news, a broadcaster has shared the likelihood of Villa making a £64million double signing.
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