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Admit it. During three months of no Premier League matches due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was one thing you missed more than others.
VAR controversy.
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SIGN UP HERE There were no fans in the stands at Villa Park when Aston Villa drew Sheffield United 0-0 on Wednesday to kick off the restarted Premier League season, and head referee Michael Oliver is probably grateful there were no members of the Blades' traveling support there to boo him.
With the first half winding down, Villa keeper Orjan Norland appeared to carry the ball into his own net after fumbling Oliver Norwood's free kick and colliding with teammate Keinan Davis. But Oliver's watch didn't indicate the ball crossed the line, and there was no review from the video assistant despite some pretty clear evidence the ball crossed the line.
That no-goal could have massive implications for the Premier League's few intriguing races remaining during the restarted season. The Blades would've jumped all the way to fifth with a win -- and, potentially, the driver's seat for UEFA Champions League qualification if Manchester City's ban is upheld -- while the Villans would have fallen further into a relegation spot with a loss.
The Blades, understandably, weren't thrilled with the decision. Their post-match tweet said it all.
Hawk-Eye Innovations, who provides goal-line technology to the Premier League, said in a lengthy statement on Twitter that the "seven cameras" in place at Villa Park used for the Goal Decision System "were significantly occluded by the goalkeeper, defender and the goalpost," which led to a first-of-its-kind situation in which Oliver wasn't notified that the goal crossed the line.
In short, a 1-in-9,000 technological issue within the first 45 minutes of the biggest soccer league in the world returning to play could shape the remainder of its restarted season.
Oh, Premier League. I've missed you so much.