Does the FA Cup have VAR this season?

NEWCASTLE fans were left feeling aggrieved after Alexander Isak was hauled down by Daniel Ballard in the first half of the huge FA Cup derby with bitter rivals Sunderland.

The striker, was racing towards goal with the Black Cats defender on his shoulder and hit the deck.

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Daniel Ballard’s challenge on Alexander Isak was NOT checked by VAR at the Stadium of Light[/caption]

The challenge was very 50/50 over whether or not it was a foul or within the laws of the game.

Had it been in the Premier League the decision would have no doubt been reviewed by the VARs at Stockley Park.

But at the Stadium of Light, the on-field decision – no foul – stood and the game continued.

Does the FA Cup have VAR this season?

The lack of a video replay saw confusion among those watching the game.

This is further confused by the answer to the above question – as the technology IS being used in the FA Cup this season… but only in select grounds.

The problem is Sunderland, and all other clubs that are not in the Premier League, are NOT licensed to use VAR.

Only grounds that are in England’s top flight are licensed to use the technology, with infrastructure and staffing costs cited as the main issue for rolling it out in other grounds around the country.

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VAR intervened to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin sent off at Crystal Palace[/caption]

That means that while the huge derby between Sunderland and Newcastle did not have the technology, Sunday’s mega-clash between Arsenal and Liverpool WILL have the technology.

Any FA Cup tie played at a Premier League home ground will use the technology, leading many to complain about its unfairness.

Last year, the FA responded to such claims, stating: “Video assistant referees provide match officials with additional support and should be utilised wherever possible.

“However, only Premier League stadiums are currently licensed to use VAR due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required.”

The much-derided technology has already sent waves through the competition this season after Dominic Calvert-Lewin was controversially sent off against Crystal Palace in the first tie of round three.

There is similar confusion in the Carabao Cup, where VAR is not used in early rounds but then introduced for the semi-finals and finals.