The 'frustration' of VAR

TL;DR

VAR has played a significant role in key decisions affecting title races in England and Scotland this week. Fans are debating its effectiveness, particularly following the controversial decision in the West Ham-Arsenal match.

Key points

VAR involved in key decisions in England and Scotland
Debate over VAR's effectiveness among fans
Controversial decision in West Ham-Arsenal match

BBC Sport football issues correspondent Dale Johnson has written this piece looking at how VAR has this week been involved in two big decisions in title races in both England and Scotland - and in the case of the Premier League, the relegation battle too.

So we asked fans of clubs involved what it says about how VAR is working...

[BBC]

The VAR decision in the West Ham-Arsenal game has caused a huge debate among fans as to how useful this technology actually is in the Premier League.

We know it was introduced to stop those clear and obvious errors that we were seeing happening quite a lot with referees, but the problem is that it still comes down to human error and human decision-making, and you can't look at everything across the board.

That's where the frustration is coming.

We're seeing inconsistencies as fans. We're seeing four-minute checks when fans don't know whether to celebrate or not. We're seeing so many situations that don't get looked - or a situation that is given as a foul through VAR in one game, but not in another.

And you've also got the situation when, if a referee goes to the screen, 99% of the time it feels like they are going to change their mind.

All of this means VAR does not feel like the useful resource we hoped it might be when it was introduced.

Ultimately, VAR shines a spotlight on one moment but then it still comes down to a human decision in that moment, which is prone to human error and bound to cause debate among fans because it's such a pressured environment.

The question is: has it actually changed anything?

Find more from Holly Turbutt at West Ham Network

Q&A

What were the key VAR decisions affecting title races this week?

This week, VAR was involved in crucial decisions in both the Premier League and the Scottish title races, impacting the outcomes for several clubs.

How did the VAR decision in the West Ham-Arsenal game spark debate?

The VAR decision in the West Ham-Arsenal match has led to widespread discussion among fans about the reliability and usefulness of VAR technology in the Premier League.

What are fans saying about VAR's effectiveness in football?

Fans of clubs involved in recent VAR decisions are expressing frustration and questioning how well VAR is functioning in critical match situations.