IF THE Video Assistant Referee system had been used at Wembley in May, Newport County AFC could have been playing in League One this season – but, having witnessed the chaos it’s causing in the Premier League, I’m glad we don’t have to deal with it in the lower leagues.

County fans have tried their best to banish the League Two play-off final defeat to Tranmere Rovers from their memories.

And Michael Flynn and his players have done a great job in bouncing back from what was a bitter blow at the end of an incredible season.

But let’s quickly cast our minds back to May 25 this year; there are 85 minutes on the clock at Wembley and the Exiles and Tranmere are locked at 0-0.

Rovers defender Manny Monthe appears to upend Jamille Matt in the box and the County players, management and fans are united in screaming for a penalty.

But referee Ross Joyce ignores those appeals and, well, we know what happened after that.

South Wales Argus:

Just over an hour later, Flynn is sitting in the bowels of the England’s national stadium reflecting on the 1-0 defeat.

After congratulating Tranmere and his opposite number Micky Mellon, the Exiles boss can’t resist musing on what might have been.

“We are at the home of football, Wembley, we have the equipment, we have full time referees and today a big decision has absolutely killed us.

"It was a stonewall penalty and I cannot believe it wasn't given. That is my frustration.

“It was a 100 per cent penalty for the foul on Jamille Matt.

"The referee said there was a touch, but it wasn't enough. But it was a very poor decision and I would rather they hold their hands up and say, 'I got it wrong'.

"It is a play-off final with these technology improvements… you can't get it wrong in the play-off final, it is not a Mickey Mouse game.

"And we have the facilities at Wembley, they want to play the game here, what is the point in having it here if they don't use the facilities we have?

"It is state of the art at this stadium and yet they didn't use the technology, I don't understand it."

South Wales Argus:

Fast forward five months and VAR is still making headlines for all the wrong reasons in the top tier.

After months of not intervening to correct obvious errors in the Premier League, like the clear foul by Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen on Watford's Gerard Deulofeu earlier this month, things were turned on their head over the weekend.

Now the VAR operatives are suddenly spotting fouls that nobody else can see and interfering where they have no business in doing so, seriously undermining the officials on the pitch in the process.

Everton, Norwich City and Arsenal have all been all robbed by baffling VAR decisions over the past few days.

And these big calls – awarding penalties for Brighton & Hove Albion against Everton and Manchester United against Norwich and disallowing Sokratis’ late ‘winner’ against Crystal Palace – were made by unaccountable individuals in the VAR Hub at Stockley Park.

Surely, the referee on the pitch has to have the final say. And, if there’s a doubt, why not use the pitch-side monitors rather than let them gather dust on the sidelines like unwanted Christmas gifts?

At least then, as a fan, you know who to direct your anger towards.

The delayed decisions are also causing supporters inside the stadium and at home to temper their celebrations.

South Wales Argus:

There were two minutes between Sokratis’ shot hitting the back of the net at the Emirates on Sunday and VAR ruling it out.

The Arsenal players and fans went from elated to enraged and ultimately bewildered at a decision that cost their team two points in the race for a Champions League spot.

Imagine the feeling if Mark O’Brien’s winner against Notts County to seal the Great Escape in 2017 had been ruled out for Marlon Jackson’s hair getting in a defender’s eye.

Or if Matt’s equaliser at Morecambe to seal a play-off place in May had been chalked off because Harry McKirdy’s socks were rolled down too far.

I’m not against the use of technology in sport. It works pretty well in cricket and rugby union, for example.

But in the Premier League right now, it’s a shambles. VAR has to be used in a more logical way, or not at all.

In League Two we do at least know that when the referee makes a decision, whether we agree with it or not, it is final.