The video assistant referee (VAR) system was once again on everybody’s lips and keyboards on Wednesday night as the current Champions League trial threw up a few controversial incidents.

Manchester City saw a penalty awarded against them after a the referee’s decision was overturned following a long delay because the pitchside monitor wasn’t working at Schalke. In the night’s other game, Alvaro Morata had a goal ruled out for a push seen by the VAR while a penalty decision was reversed after Atletico Madrid team-mate Diego Costa was adjudged to have been fouled outside the area.

As the teething problems continue, Sportsmail‘s reporters debate whether or not VAR is working and suggest one change they would make to it. 

Referee Felix Zwayer watches footage before ruling out Alvaro Morata’s goal against Juventus 

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI

Is VAR working?

Yes. More often than not, it clears up the decision. It gets it right. It takes time but if we accept the standpoint that accuracy is paramount, it ticks the box.

What one thing would you change?

Get rid of it. Just because it’s working doesn’t mean you have to like it. Personally, it bores me. The delays in the game bore me, the hand-wringing bores me, the idea that football or sport has to be perfect bores me, the impatience of those expecting the flawless implementation of innovation – boring. Really boring, actually.

ROB DRAPER

Is VAR working?

Not perfectly. The monitor going down is a pretty clear indicator that it’s not. (Though heartening to see journalists aren’t the only people screaming blue murder when the wifi goes down). But are the decisions correct? Yes. The handball was, well, hand ball. And deliberate enough for me. Even Morata’s shove on Chiellini was ultimately correct. He pushed him: lightly, but he pushed him to gain an advantage.

What one thing would you change?

Other than getting the wifi up and running? Obviously quicker decisions. But realistically opponents of VAR will never accept it. I mean never. This poll will be running in 2049. Decisions are often subjective. When it goes against your team or the rule is interpreted in a way that offends your sense of how football should be, you become angry. And now you have VAR on which to vent your displaced anger.

Nicolas Otamendi protests his innocence as the referee books him after giving a penalty

JACK GAUGHAN

Is VAR working?

In its current guise, no. Debate was still raging about the City penalty decisions late into the night in Germany, but wasn’t VAR being introduced to prevent that? Football remains subjective and, at the moment, the power of the slo-mo threatens to distort huge decisions.

What one thing would you change?

Not only should decisions be broadcast on screens inside the ground – nobody at the Veltins Arena knew what was going on – but the conversation between the referee and VAR officials ought to be audiable for absolute clarity.

DOMINIC KING

Is VAR working?

In some respects, yes. I watched Atletico Madrid’s game against Juventus and both times it was called into action, it worked perfectly. The first incident, when a Diego Costa ‘penalty’ was overturned, showed what the system could be: fast, efficient and 100 per cent accurate within a matter of seconds. There are glitches, though, and I’m confused why the VAR system used in the World Cup is not the same one as in the Champions League or the Carabao and FA Cup.

What one thing would you change?

For starters, I would make the system universal so it was the same for every competition. There also needs to be better communication for supporters inside the stadium to let them know exactly what is going on. If it can work as it did with Costa’s decision – he was tripped outside the area and Juventus would have been aggrieved to have conceded such a penalty – it will only enhance football. If it continues to be muddled, it will only cause problems.

Atletico striker Diego Costa reacts after a decision to award him a penalty was overturned

CHRIS WHEELER

Is VAR working?

Yes. As long as it is limited to black and white decisions where ‘a clear and obvious error’ has been made by the referee – like the penalty awarded to Atletico Madrid against Juventus for a foul on Diego Costa outside the box that was rescinded – then it works fine. The problems start when VAR is used on subjective issues like Nicolas Otamendi’s handball for Manchester City against Schalke.

What one thing would you change?

Only use VAR to correct a ‘clear and obvious error’ by the referee. In particular, that would cut down on the time delays caused by multiple reviews of less clear-cut incidents that only slow the game down. 

KIERAN GILL

Is VAR working?

Yes, it’s working. There were always going to be hiccups along the way. I personally prefer football without VAR, but if we’re going to have to live with it, then we will have to be patient.

What one thing would you change?

I’d like to see less pauses in play. It’s just awkward inside the stadium when the referee has to cause a stoppage because a few officials in a van fancy watching a replay.  

The referee listens to the VAR as Alvaro Morata’s goal against Juventus is ruled out for a foul

LAURIE WHITWELL

Is VAR working?

Predominantly, yes, in that the correct decisions by letter of the law are being reached. Clearly, there are issues. The time taken to decide Nicolas Otamendi had committed handball was far too long, as if the VAR had nipped out for a cigarette break, even if for me the right call was made. A personal feeling is that the contact made by Alvaro Morata was not enough to rule out his header, but equally the referee was entitled to think otherwise after watching it back. We will see more marginal fouls given as on replay, slowed down, infringements appear greater. 

What one thing would you change?

Fans in the stadium should be given benefit to what TV viewers see. The big screens are there, use them. There should be no secrecy around refereeing in these scenarios, it is not the Magic Circle. It should also be the on-field referee making the final call after studying the pitch-side monitor, not some invisible voice in his ear. Otherwise his authority is undermined and players are given licence to doubt and argue. There are no protests after goal-line technology kicks in because players understand its clarity. On Wednesday night Manchester City players sensed uncertainty so complained on both penalties.