– Could have used the money for something else, says Petter Strand
Brann has advocated video refereeing (VAR) in Norwegian football. Chairman of the Board Birger Grevstad jr. believes the introduction of VAR is inevitable.
Video judging will apparently become a reality in the elite series from the 2023 season onwards. At a meeting last week, Brann also supported the clear majority decision in Norsk Toppfotball, which is the top club’s interest organization.
– We followed the majority decision. This means that Brann did not vote against VAR, confirms the chairman of Brann, Birger Grevstad jr.
Only Lillestrøm was against.
Grevstad believes the introduction of VAR is inevitable and thus answers why.
– It’s time. All other countries are introducing it, and it will be fair decisions. It is not easy to be a judge, and VAR can help, says Grevstad.
This is his demand
However, he is very clear on the following. VAR must not become too late and spend a lot of time. Therefore, he is happy that Norwegian football will now have to spend a year training referees and introducing the system before the 2023 season.
– What we must avoid is that deciding takes two minutes. The decisions must be made quickly, and it must largely be used in situations with goals and red cards, says Grevstad.
BT asked several in Brann what they think about VAR. The clearest of them all is vice captain Petter Strand.
– For my part, we could have used the money for something else. Nike or Adidas balls, for example, says Strand and points to the balls Brann trains with.
Introduction of VAR will according to VG cost Norwegian football a total of between 12 and 18 million kroner annually.
– It has been given a lot of misjudgment, but it has gone well for over 100 years without VAR, so it is livable, says Strand and adds:
– I also make a little misjudgment yet that many are stopped for many minutes during the matches, says the midfielder.
Have spilled with VAR
Attacker Bård Finne has played half a season with VAR in Denmark when he was in Sønderjyske. Denmark has generally had a bit of trouble with many slow VAR decisions, but Finne experienced it as quite seamless.
– The justice it entails is good. But I am an emotional person, and VAR takes away a bit of spontaneity, says Finne.
The striker says he is happy that VAR can remove clear refereeing errors and that he is actually for video refereeing, but he is afraid that it will be slow, as many have experienced VAR as in the Premier League, for example.
– This is how it was practiced in the Premier League last year, so it is down below the entertainment value of the match, says Finne and adds:
– Everyone has set that if it takes too long, then VAR takes away the spontaneous joy and celebrations, which is what I love about football. But if it is quickly efficient and not too much pipe, then I think it can work.
– VAR has come to stay
On his way into the locker room, Eirik Horneland also takes the time to talk about VAR. He says that Norway would certainly have done without the system, but:
– VAR has come to stay in football. Then it’s nice if Norway has to stand outside, says Horneland.
He points out that Norway wants a league that should be high up in European standards, and that he and everyone else in Norwegian football work to improve the quality. In that perspective, the Brann coach believes it is natural that Norway has the same systems as other countries.
With good practice, Horneland thinks it can go well to get VAR in Norway.
– Internationally, I think the matches are much better now, VAR has settled down a bit, and the line for the referees has been set at a better level. There are fewer breaks in the game and it is many times to watch international football reach.