'How have we got to 2024 with such a fundamentally flawed concept?'

It has taken three months, but finally my resistance has been broken. I am doing a piece about VAR.

First let me say - all football fans should appreciate that refereeing is an extremely tough gig. Not only do you have to deal with the increasing physical demands of the modern game, but you need to be analysing and decision-making in real time. Not many could do it (or at least do it well) so big respect for those who can.

When the clamour grew for giving referees help, it was difficult to argue. The financial stakes at the top level are so high that video support was almost an imperative.

So how have we got to 2024 with such a fundamentally flawed concept, compared with every other major world sport? Why have we superseded understandable human error with counteracting, subjective video protocols - specifically, "referee's call" vs "clear and obvious"?

In a matter of weeks, my team Ipswich have come out on the wrong side of multiple situations where VAR either did not need to get involved but did anyway, or where it should have got involved but could not or would not.

The immediate aftermath of our latest penalty award VAR failure was a second booking and red card for Kalvin Phillips against Leicester. Even if this decision was the wrong call (and to be fair it was more debatable than the penalty), this situation is not permitted to be reviewed as second yellow cards leading to red cards are excluded from allowable VAR intervention. Why?!

Until the PGMOL establishes common sense protocols for utilisation of video assistance which can be applied both objectively and consistently, VAR is going to continue to ruin the spectacle of top-flight football, hang referees out to dry and meaningfully impact teams like Ipswich.

It would really help if those charged with discussing in national media where VAR has been poorly deployed, particularly ex-referees, do not try to hide it from fair criticism.

Find more from Richard Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast