In his latest brilliantly incisive cartoon strip for The Guardian, David Squires turns his razor-sharp wit to the omnishambles that is the Video Assistant Referee system. With the Premier League season in full swing, Squires captures the universal fatigue and bewilderment that 'After Review...' has become the most dreaded phrase in football.
The cartoonist masterfully illustrates the absurd theatre that now unfolds each weekend. From players frozen in a state of perpetual uncertainty to managers spontaneously combusting on the touchline, every figure is a monument to the madness. The strip suggests that the quest for flawless officiating has instead created a labyrinth of new, even more baffling errors.
The Agony of the Wait
Squires' work hilariously depicts the interminable delays that have become a staple of the modern matchday experience. Fans are shown ageing in their seats, cobwebs forming between them and the pitch, as they await a linesman's armpit to be measured to the millimetre. The comic timing in the artwork perfectly mirrors the real-life, momentum-killing pauses that have sucked the joy out of goal celebrations.
A Cast of Confused Characters
At the heart of the satire is the VAR official themselves, often portrayed as a bewildered figure staring into a mystical, all-seeing crystal ball that somehow makes things less clear. Meanwhile, on-pitch referees are reduced to mere puppets, their authority undermined as they are instructed to trot over to a screen and publicly reverse their own decisions.
Squires doesn't let anyone off the hook. The players' performative outrage, the fans' utter despair, and the pundits' endless, circular debates are all skewered with equal measure. It’s a potent reminder that while the technology was meant to provide black-and-white answers, it has only painted the beautiful game in fifty shades of grey.
Ultimately, Squires' cartoon is more than just a joke; it's a cathartic release for anyone who has ever shouted at their television in frustration. It holds up a mirror to the Premier League and asks if the pursuit of perfection is worth sacrificing the very soul and spontaneity of the sport.
