It was one of the most controversial VAR decisions in years, yet the 74,161 inside Old Trafford were kept in the dark. When referee Michael Oliver blew his whistle to award Erling Haaland's goal, few would have had any clue the real offside situation involved Enzo Fernandez. Viewers on television, however, were able to learn exactly what happened with the goal that gave Manchester City a 1-0 win.

It is not just about the most contentious decisions, either. On Saturday, Crystal Palace defender Axel Disasi was sent off for serious foul play in the 3-2 loss to Ipswich Town. The Chelsea loanee stood on the side of the pitch for over a minute while the VAR checked the red card. And those at Selhurst Park remained in the dark.

We're almost 10 years into the use of the video assistant referee, and still the match-going fan is treated like a second-class citizen. The television commentary team are in a unique position, able to hear what the VAR is saying but not the referee. The idea is they can pass on the context of VAR checks to the viewers, who are not permitted to make those judgements themselves.

Will football ever get to a place where fans are trusted to hear what the video official is saying, just like other sports? When Howard Webb took over as the Premier League referees' chief in 2022, he promised greater transparency and openness. Huge strides have been made on that front, and the Match Officials Mic'd Up VAR TV show was a trailblazer among the top European leagues.