FA Cup: Why is there no VAR in the third and fourth rounds?

VAR was also not used during the third and fourth round ties last season, leading to a number of notable talking points.

Manchester United qualified for the FA Cup fifth round after Harry Maguire scored with a late header against Leicester City. The defender appeared to be offside but as VAR was not in use, the referees did not pick it up and the goal was awarded.

Chelsea also felt that Brighton’s winning goal in the fourth round should have been disallowed because the ball struck Tariq Lamptey’s arm in the lead-up to Kaoru Mitoma’s goal, but there were no video assistant referees in that round.

Birmingham City were also left heartbroken when goalkeeper Billy Peacock-Farrell felt he had blocked Joe Willock’s opening goal, but there was no goal-line technology in operation at the League One ground. There was no conclusive evidence that the ball crossed the goal line, but the assistant referee signaled to give Newcastle the goal.

Dominic Hyam’s header was also ruled out for offside in Blackburn’s defeat to Wolves – when replays suggested he was offside.

Despite these events, former Newcastle goalkeeper, Shay Given, said that he enjoyed watching the matches without the use of video assistant referee technology.

“I think it’s refreshing that they didn’t have VAR and I wish they had that throughout the competition,” he told BBC Sport.

Former Birmingham City defender Curtis Davies said technology takes the blame away from officials on the pitch.

“When the computer makes a decision, there is no one to point the finger at it,” he said.

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