The advent of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology was a turning point in soccer. While lauded as a transformative addition, its implementation has elicited mixed responses across the globe. In the NWSL, the usage of this technology by the referees has sparked controversy, specifically due to the frequent and prolonged stoppages it causes during matches. Angel City FC manager Becki Tweed has expressed dissatisfaction with this tendency, citing a lack of ‘fairness.‘ 

Sunday’s match between Washington Spirits and Utah Royals saw a 13-minute delay following the use of this soccer invention. More than the soccer fraternity, Tweed seems frustrated by this delay. While being interviewed by journalist Kamran Nia, the coach reacted by saying, “It is what it is. Everybody across all 14 teams are in the same position. I don’t think there’s fairness in the league. It is becoming ridiculous in the sense that we have put in efforts to enhance and make our league better.” Tweed claims that unnecessary dragging of the game can put the players in ‘dangerous positions.’ 

While urging the NWSL to address the issue, the English manager emphasized the need to re-evaluate what is referred to as the VAR for review. Additionally, when asked if she was preparing her side for tackling the VAR issue, she replied succinctly with a ‘No.’ Then, she concluded, “If you have to spend 13 minutes, is it really clear and obvious?’ and the wording behind ‘clear and obvious’ doesn’t make sense to anybody in the league right now. If it is clear and obvious, then it takes 2-3 minutes.” Let’s see if the NWSL stakeholders try to fix the problem. 

Notably, this is not the only problem the USA’s apex women’s soccer league is asked to resolve. 

Alexis Ohanian urges NWSL to look into growing ACL problems

Alexis Ohanian has urged the NWSL to address persistent ACL issues the players face. Ohanian shared a reel on Instagram, originally posted by @offseasonfc and @soccergrlprobs, featuring a clip from Saved by the Bell’s ‘Iconic Bayside Drug Commercial’ with the caption “Women playing with knees,” with the dialogues including “dumb, st***d, crazy, dangerous.” Ohanian wrote a caption saying, “We gotta fix this ACL situation.” 

This rallying effort from Serena Williams‘ husband comes after Gotham’s Midge Purce became the latest to suffer a season-ending injury, tearing her ACL. Even Angel City saw their star player, Jun Endo, sustain the exact knock during the club’s 2024 preseason camp in Melbourne. While Christen Press made a return from her 2-year exile because of ACL rupture, North Carolina Courage’s Kerolin Nicoli continues to battle with it.

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Nevertheless, it seems with prosperity, tribulations are significantly increasing for the NWSL. Let’s see how they tackle ACL problems and the delay created by VAR.