In a recent report, it has been revealed where Aston Villa would sit in the Premier League table should VAR not exist.
It has been a great season for Aston Villa but it hasn’t been without controversy as refereeing decisions have been questioned.
This hasn’t been only against the Villans as Diego Carlos got away with a handball vs Burnley. Kai Havertz’s goal at Villa Park may have been fortunate to be chalked off.
On the flip side, decisions like those in the Sheffield United game have impacted Unai Emery’s side in a negative sense. How Ollie Watkins wasn’t awarded a penalty was beyond fans and why Leon Bailey’s goal was ruled out was frustrating.
With all that being said, fans had been left wondering how their season may have been affected if VAR didn’t exist. Now they can find out exactly what their league position would be.
Aston Villa fly high in a world without VAR
It is safe to say whether or not VAR is in operation, Villa have had a brilliant Premier League campaign. With them sitting in second place, they are in a surprising Champions League race.
With that being the case, decisions that have gone against the Villans haven’t stung as much as they might have done.
Despite this, a recent report by The Sun which outlines the Premier League table in a world without VAR makes interesting reading.
Discussing the points difference, they said: “While Villa have had three changed decisions in their favour and four against, two of those decisions cost them points.”
To go 20 Premier League games and only have seven decisions either way, doesn’t seem so bad. Especially given how slow VAR made the game against Burnley.
The question is which decisions went against the Villans which resulted in them dropping points so far this season.
On that, it was said: “Drawing the lines saw Lucas Digne deemed offside before Diego Carlos “scored” in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, while Leon Bailey’s strike was controversially overturned for a foul on Sheffield United keeper Wes Foderingham in last month’s surprise 1-1 draw.
“With both those goals counting, Villa would be on 46 points, up four on their current tally, and heading Liverpool by a point.”
With every team and VAR being taken into account, Emery’s Aston Villa would be sitting pretty in top spot. In an alternate universe where VAR doesn’t exist, the Villans would be first in the Premier League.
Although it may be frustrating, it could be looked at from a different perspective that few decisions have gone against Villa. It could always be worse.
