Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has voiced his worries about VAR, stating that it is taking up too much time during games. Merson's comments come after the Premier League match between Tottenham and Chelsea on Monday, which was marred by multiple VAR interruptions, leaving fans frustrated.

Too Many Disallowed Goals and Penalty Checks

In the first half alone, there were four disallowed goals, three red card checks, and two penalty checks. Although Chelsea eventually won the match 4-1, thanks to a hat-trick from Nicolas Jackson and a first-half penalty from Cole Palmer, Merson argues that the time taken by VAR to reach a final decision on each call was excessive.

Merson's Concerns Echoed by Referee Mike Dean

Merson revealed that his concerns were fueled by a conversation he had with former Premier League referee Mike Dean. During an appearance on Soccer Saturday, Dean stated that the length of time taken by VAR doesn't matter as long as the right decision is reached. Merson found this statement worrying, especially when calls are blatantly obvious and still take an excessive amount of time to review.

Merson argues that the hesitation and fear of making mistakes have caused VAR officials to be overly cautious, resulting in lengthy delays during matches. He pointed out that other commentators, like Gary Neville, were able to make accurate assessments almost immediately, highlighting the need for quicker decision-making in VAR situations.

Premier League Officials Under Fire for Controversial Decisions

This isn't the first time Premier League officials have faced criticism for their handling of VAR. Throughout the season, they have made several controversial decisions that have sparked outrage among fans and players alike. One of the most notable incidents occurred during Tottenham's match against Liverpool in September, when VAR incorrectly ruled out Liverpool's opening goal due to an offside call that was later proven to be wrong.

As debates about the effectiveness and efficiency of VAR continue, it remains to be seen if any changes will be implemented to address the concerns raised by Merson and others.