Newcastle United’s dramatic 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park reignited the debate around VAR in spectacular fashion. Ironically, the technology at the centre of so much weekly scrutiny was not even in operation.

For the third and fourth rounds of the FA Cup, VAR is not used. It only comes into play from the fifth round onwards. Many supporters had welcomed the break from lengthy stoppages and delayed celebrations. What unfolded in the West Midlands, however, was a chaotic reminder of why the system was introduced in the first place.

From a clearly offside opener to a baffling non-penalty decision and a controversial red card, referee Chris Kavanagh and his officials endured a torrid afternoon. In the end, Newcastle United progressed to the last 16, but the match left serious questions about the balance between human judgement and technological assistance in elite football.

The absence of VAR at Villa Park was not an oversight. The FA has chosen not to implement the system in the early rounds of the competition in recent seasons. The reasoning is largely based on consistency and cost. Not all lower league grounds are equipped with the required technology, and rather than create an uneven playing field, the decision has been to delay its introduction until the fifth round.

On paper, that approach protects fairness. In reality, it can create scenarios like this one, where a high-profile tie at a Premier League stadium proceeds without the safety net referees have grown accustomed to in league competition.

Both managers admitted after the match that the lack of VAR shaped the narrative.

Eddie Howe admitted he felt conflicted.

“I’m so torn because the game is better without VAR in terms of excitement and the spectacle,” he said.

“But it does give accurate results. It makes the game more precise. I was wishing there was VAR for the goal they scored against us.”

On the opposite bench, Unai Emery was more direct.

“Today it makes sense understanding that VAR is necessary. It’s necessary to help the referees.”

The first major flashpoint arrived early. Tammy Abraham converted from close range to put Aston Villa ahead. Replays showed the striker was clearly beyond the defensive line when the free-kick was delivered.

In the Premier League, this is precisely the type of situation VAR was designed to correct. With semi-automated offside technology in use, marginal calls are decided by digital precision. This one was not marginal.

Without VAR, assistant referee Nick Greenhalgh kept his flag down and the goal stood.

Former striker Alan Shearer did not hold back in his assessment.

“If you ever needed any evidence of the damage VAR has done to referees, today is a great example. These guys looked petrified to make a decision.”

The suggestion is clear. Officials who rely on VAR week in, week out may hesitate more when the technology is absent. Whether that is fair criticism or not, the opening goal set the tone for a fractious afternoon.

If the offside decision caused frustration, the second major incident caused disbelief.

Midway through the second half, Lucas Digne handled inside his own penalty area. The Villa full-back was clearly at least a yard inside the box. Yet Chris Kavanagh awarded a free-kick rather than a penalty.

It was a decision that stunned players, supporters and pundits alike.

Former England striker Wayne Rooney described it in brutal terms.

“That decision is one of the worst I have ever seen in football. At no stage was Digne out of the penalty box.”

Even more puzzling was the assistant’s proximity to the incident. Positioned only yards away, he had an unobstructed view. With VAR, the correction would have taken seconds.

Ironically, from the resulting free-kick, Sandro Tonali eventually equalised. Yet that twist of fate does not excuse the original error. In matches of this magnitude, such mistakes can define seasons.

Controversy did not end there. Later in the game, Lucas Digne launched into a forceful challenge on Jacob Murphy. It was high, late and reckless.

Would VAR have upgraded a yellow to a red card for serious foul play?

The answer is not straightforward. In Premier League matches this season, similar incidents have sometimes remained unchanged after review. The French defender did not drive through Murphy’s shin, and his foot appeared to withdraw quickly after contact.

It may have been one of those borderline calls where the on-field decision would have stood either way. Even so, it added to the sense that the game was slipping beyond the officials’ control.

Just before half-time, Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot was shown a straight red card after bringing down Jacob Murphy.

The debate centred on whether it constituted serious foul play or denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Murphy was advancing, but the ball was not travelling directly towards goal and a covering defender was nearby. Under VAR scrutiny, the nuances would have been examined in detail.

As it was, the referee made a decisive call without technological support. Interestingly, this was one of the few decisions that may well have been upheld even with VAR in operation.

There was yet another twist when Newcastle United equalised. As the free-kick was floated in, Dan Burn appeared to run across the defensive line and interfere with opponents.

Although he did not touch the ball, questions were raised about whether he was marginally offside and whether his movement impeded the goalkeeper.

With semi-automated technology, the answer would have been definitive. Without it, the goal stood.

In a single match, there were multiple incidents that VAR could have influenced. Some might have been overturned. Others might have remained unchanged. What is undeniable is that the absence of technology amplified uncertainty.

This FA Cup tie offered a powerful snapshot of modern refereeing challenges. On one hand, supporters cherish the raw emotion of immediate celebrations and uninterrupted play. On the other, elite football demands accuracy and fairness.

Eddie Howe captured the dilemma perfectly.

“I love the raw emotion when a goal goes in and nobody can take it away from you. But it does make the game more precise.”

The question is not whether referees are capable professionals. They are. The question is whether the modern game, played at such speed and scrutinised from every angle, has outgrown purely human officiating at the highest level.

The scenes at Villa Park will fuel both sides of the argument. Critics of VAR will point to the chaos, saying football survived decades without it. Supporters of the technology will argue that this was precisely why it was introduced.

What is certain is that this 3-1 victory for Newcastle United will be remembered as much for officiating controversy as for on-pitch drama. If the FA Cup was seeking a reminder of the stakes involved in abandoning VAR, Villa Park delivered it in abundance.

And as the competition moves into the fifth round, the technology returns. After this weekend, few will question why.