Christian Pulisic is not a fan of VAR.
The U.S. men’s national team and Chelsea star has spoken out against the technology in an excerpt from his upcoming book “Christian Pulisic: My Journey So Far,” which will be available for purchase on October 18.
Pulisic was interviewed shortly after the USMNT lost 2-0 at Canada in a World Cup qualifier in January. CONCACAF introduced VAR ahead of that three-game window after previously not featuring the technology in earlier World Cup qualifiers.
But Pulisic didn’t feel the introduction had much effect. The winger was repeatedly fouled during the match in Hamilton, Ontario, and felt that more should have been done to protect him and his teammates.
Questions from author Daniel Melamud are in italic.
Pulisic on VAR
VAR technology has just been introduced to the World Cup qualifying matches; are you happy about that?
Before I would have said yes for CONCACAF, because I’ve seen some things in CONCACAF that I’ve never seen elsewhere in the way things are handled.
But after this window, specifically in that Canada game, they simply refused to look at certain plays and use it when there were clear and obvious situations when they should. What’s the point if you’re not going to use it? If it’s available and there are obvious foul plays, potential red cards, and they simply don’t use it, I just don’t really understand it.
There were so many heavy challenges and what clearly looked like fouls in that game that weren’t called.
Yeah, I’ve never been a fan of VAR, to be honest, but I thought it could potentially help in these games in CONCACAF, which can be quite physical with a lot of crazy tackles and fouls. But I feel like they didn’t use it to the extent that they could.
And you haven’t been a fan of VAR because it’s disruptive?
Having VAR affects the rhythm of the game. Technology can be really helpful as far as goal-line technology, for example, or making big decisions on whether a card needs changing from a yellow to a red. But at times with VAR, it seems like so many people are unsure about what’s going on, and it can take and change so much emotion in the game.
For example, when you score a goal and then it takes five minutes to get checked, the celebrations are just off; it can be really frustrating to the players. I don’t think people realize how much emotions swing in games and momentum can change in those moments.
You can pre-order “Christian Pulisic: My Journey So Far” right here.
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