According to BBC Sport analysts Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer, referees have become overly reliant on VAR, and this dependence is causing them to hesitate when making decisions on their own, as seen in the recent FA Cup fourth round match between Aston Villa and Newcastle, where a potential handball by Lucas Digne did not result in a penalty.

For further analysis on the incident and its implications for the use of VAR, click to read more about the controversy surrounding the Villa Park match.

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Sandro Tonali's performance inspires Newcastle to secure a win over Aston Villa, who were reduced to ten men.

Is there a more compelling argument for the use of video assistant referees (VAR) than what was witnessed in this match?

Newcastle's 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round was marked by controversy, with several key decisions made without the aid of VAR, which is not introduced until the fifth round.

For the current and previous FA Cup seasons, VAR has not been utilized until the fifth round, leaving many fans to experience football without the interruptions caused by technology.

Referee Chris Kavanagh faced numerous challenging decisions, including an offside goal, a potential penalty, and several other contentious calls, which may have impacted the outcome of the game.

Despite being on the receiving end of most of the disputed calls, Newcastle progressed to the next round, but manager Eddie Howe expressed his frustration with the officiating.

Tammy Abraham's goal for Villa was ruled onside, despite appearing to be offside, while Lucas Digne's handball should have resulted in a penalty rather than a free-kick, and the defender was also fortunate to avoid a red card for a reckless challenge.

Howe noted that while the absence of VAR can lead to a more exciting and immersive experience for fans, it also means that accurate results may not always be achieved.

"The presence of VAR can provide more precise decision-making, which is invaluable in critical moments," Howe said.

"However, when VAR is available, officials may rely on it to correct their decisions, potentially leading to a decrease in their own decision-making abilities."

"I have mixed feelings about VAR; on one hand, it's wonderful to experience the raw emotion of a goal without interruptions, but on the other hand, I wished VAR was available to review the goal scored against us and other key moments in the game."

Aston Villa will likely reflect on the red card given to goalkeeper Marco Bizot and the potential offside position of Dan Burn during Newcastle's equalizing goal.

Villa manager Unai Emery stated, "Today's events demonstrate the necessity of VAR in assisting referees."

After a season where VAR has been a frequent topic of discussion, does this weekend's events highlight the potential issues that arise when it's not used?

Former England striker Alan Shearer commented, "Referees have become accustomed to relying on VAR for several months, and it's challenging for them to adjust to not having it in high-pressure games."

"It's difficult to criticize the officials, given their reliance on VAR for an extended period, but it's essential for them to perform their duties accurately, even without the aid of technology."

"The absence of VAR in this match has exposed the potential damage it has caused to referees' decision-making abilities, as they appear hesitant to make calls without the safety net of technology."

"Today's events serve as evidence of the impact VAR has had on referees, making them more reliant on technology and less confident in their own abilities."

The FA Cup does not utilize VAR until the fifth round, raising questions about the consistency of refereeing decisions.

Tonali's double helps Newcastle overcome Aston Villa and advance to the next round.

Newcastle secured a comeback victory over Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

Replays clearly showed that Abraham's goal should have been disallowed for offside, while the decision not to award a penalty for Digne's handball was widely criticized.

Digne was clearly inside the penalty area when he committed the handball, but the referee awarded a free-kick instead, which ultimately led to Tonali's equalizing goal.

Former England striker Wayne Rooney described the decision as "one of the worst" he has seen, given that Digne was clearly inside the penalty area.

"The linesman had a clear view of the incident and should have intervened to correct the referee's mistake," Rooney added.

"The referee seemed to be influenced by the linesman, but the decision was still incorrect, and it's shocking that it was not rectified."

Former Newcastle forward Alan Shearer said, "While the referee might have been excused for not seeing the incident clearly, there is no excuse for the assistant referee, who had a clear view of the handball."

"The assistant referee's failure to intervene and correct the decision is inexcusable, given the clarity of the incident and the significance of the moment."

"At this level, the assistant referee should be able to make the correct call, and it's not a difficult decision; in fact, it's a straightforward one."

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Newcastle felt aggrieved by the offside goal scored by Abraham, which gave Villa the lead.

Abraham scored the opening goal for Villa.

Newcastle had recently experienced a marginal VAR decision, which disallowed a goal for Joe Willock due to a minor offside infringement.

Abraham's goal was the type of clear error that VAR was introduced to correct.

With VAR, the goal would have been disallowed due to Abraham's clear offside position.

While the assistant referee might have been affected by the switch between systems, it's essential for them to raise their flag when they identify an offside, regardless of the presence of VAR.

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Shearer believed that Digne should have been sent off for his "dangerous tackle."

The question remains whether Digne's tackle warranted a red card.

The question remains whether the VAR would have intervened to issue a red card to Digne for his late tackle on Jacob Murphy, but based on Premier League precedents, it's uncertain.

In similar instances, the VAR has cited minimal contact to justify upholding a yellow card decision, as seen in Diogo Dalot's challenge on Jeremy Doku during the Manchester derby last month.

Digne's speed approaching the tackle increased the likelihood of a red card upon review, but the outcome is still far from clear.

However, Digne avoided making contact with Murphy's shin, and the quick withdrawal of his foot may have been a mitigating factor.

It's possible that the on-field decision, whether a yellow or red card, would have been allowed to stand.

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Villa goalkeeper Bizot received a straight red card before halftime, prompting the question, 'What was he thinking?'

The incident raised questions about whether it constituted serious foul play or denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (Dogso).

In reality, the situation could have been classified as either, as Bizot's knee-high challenge on Murphy, although not with studs leading, was a significant foul.

At the time of the foul, Newcastle had a 3-on-1 advantage, with only Luiz back to defend, but Dogso would only apply to the player directly affected, Murphy.

The VAR would consider the direction of the ball and whether Luiz could have intercepted the shot, in determining whether to apply Dogso.

While a case can be made for Dogso, it's likely that the on-field decision would have been upheld, much like the Digne incident.

Did Digne commit handball in the penalty area, a question that arises from the incident.

It's puzzling how referee Chris Kavanagh and his assistant arrived at the decision to award a free-kick, given the circumstances.

Throughout the sequence, Digne remained inside the penalty area, from the moment Kieran Trippier played the cross to the instant he handled the ball.

Even after committing the handball, Digne continued to walk within the box, highlighting the error in the original decision.

The VAR would have required only a brief moment to correct the free-kick decision and award a penalty instead.

A question mark hangs over whether Burn was offside when Newcastle scored their equalizer.

Although Newcastle ultimately scored through Tonali from the resulting free-kick, the goal could have been disallowed if VAR had been in use.

As Trippier delivered the free-kick, Burn ran across the front of the Villa defense, potentially in an offside position.

Burn's actions, including pushing down on Abraham and jumping in front of substitute goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, may have influenced the play, even if he didn't touch the ball.

If the semi-automated technology had determined Burn to be offside, the goal would likely have been ruled out, although it would have been a close call.

Captain Sione Tuipulotu has praised Scotland's impressive Calcutta Cup win, which came after a difficult week for head coach Gregor Townsend, with the team delivering a much-needed triumph.

Following their opening Six Nations defeat to Italy in Rome, Scotland's championship aspirations were under scrutiny as they hosted an in-form England side at Murrayfield, with Townsend's position under increased pressure.

The hosts made a stunning start, racing into a 17-0 lead within 15 minutes, a cushion they maintained for the remainder of the match.

Scotland's performance was characterized by pace and flair, with fly-half Finn Russell playing a pivotal role in the victory.

Russell's vision and distribution were instrumental in creating tries for Huw Jones and Jamie Ritchie, as Scotland's attacking play flourished.

Despite England's response, which included a try from Henry Arundell before his dismissal for a second yellow card, Scotland continued to play with freedom, adding a third try after Ellis Genge failed to gather Russell's chip, allowing Ben White to capitalize.

England, who had won their previous 12 Tests, attempted a comeback in the second half, but Scotland's defense held firm, and they sealed a bonus-point victory with Jones' second try, following a charged-down drop-goal attempt by George Ford.

Tuipulotu expressed his pride in the team's performance, saying he was "extremely proud" of the way they responded to their defeat in Italy.

The Scotland captain acknowledged that the team had deserved criticism after their loss to Italy, but felt they had redeemed themselves with a strong display against England.

Tuipulotu stated that the team had felt under pressure, but had rallied behind their coach, delivering a performance that justified their support.

The captain admitted to feeling a sense of guilt, recognizing the challenges faced by head coaches, who receive criticism when the team performs poorly.

Tuipulotu praised his teammates for their commitment to the coach and their role in the victory, saying they had "got behind our coach and delivered a performance."

The Scotland Rugby Podcast has reaction from a jubilant Murrayfield, with players and coaches reflecting on the impressive win.

Scotland will now travel to Spain to recover before their next championship match against Wales, looking to build on their momentum.

Tuipulotu emphasized the importance of maintaining their performance level, saying the team would do everything possible to replicate their victory against Wales.

The Glasgow Warriors centre said he wanted to enjoy the win, but was already focused on preparing for the next match, ensuring they "prepare to the best of our abilities to back up this performance."

Former Scotland captain John Barclay echoed Tuipulotu's sentiments, stressing the need for consistency and saying that the best teams are able to maintain their performance levels.

Barclay, speaking on ITV, said that Scotland must "back it up" and avoid a significant drop-off in performance if they are to progress as a team.

The former skipper emphasized that the team's focus should be on replicating their Calcutta Cup win, with Tuipulotu and Townsend already highlighting the importance of consistency.

Barclay noted that the top teams are able to maintain their performance levels, with minimal drop-off, and that Scotland must strive to achieve this if they are to succeed.

Scotland's convincing win over England has rejuvenated their championship campaign, with the team sweeping aside their opponents in a stunning Calcutta Cup victory.

Townsend has expressed his pride in the team's performance, which saw them dominate England and regain the Calcutta Cup.

The match highlights are available, showcasing Scotland's impressive display.

Townsend has spoken about Scotland's emphatic victory, praising the team's performance and highlighting the challenges they faced.

The Scotland head coach has faced a difficult period, with three defeats in four Tests and speculation about his future, but the win over England has eased the pressure.

Townsend's position had been under scrutiny, with some questioning whether he had taken the team as far as he could, but the Calcutta Cup win has provided a timely boost.

The head coach praised the team's first-half display, saying it was some of the best rugby he had seen from a Scotland team.

Townsend told ITV that the team's performance in the opening 20 minutes was exceptional, and that he was proud of the way they fought for each other and the supporters in the second half.

The head coach attributed the team's success to their aggressive and fast-paced play, saying that Finn Russell had one of his best games for Scotland and the forwards' work-rate was superb.

Scotland have now won five of the last six Calcutta Cup matches, with Russell's missed conversion last year denying them a sixth consecutive win.

Former Scotland prop Peter Wright praised the team's performance, saying they had made England look "pretty mediocre."

Wright noted that Scotland's inconsistency is frustrating, as they can produce performances like the Calcutta Cup win, but also struggle, as they did against Italy.

The former prop said that the players deserved credit for their display, which was a significant improvement on their previous outing.

Scotland's players have been praised for their commitment to the coach and their role in the victory.

The match highlights are available, showcasing Scotland's impressive display.

England head coach Steve Borthwick said that Scotland's players had "shown up" for their coach, delivering a performance that justified their support.

Townsend dismissed the idea that Scotland only produce their best performances against England, saying that the team sees it as a positive that they can raise their game for the Calcutta Cup match.

The head coach said that the team had played some of their best rugby against England, and that this was a testament to the players' ability to perform under pressure.

Townsend emphasized that the team's focus is on the positives, rather than the negatives, and that they are proud of their record in the Calcutta Cup fixture.

The head coach reflected on the team's performance against Italy, saying that they had shown resilience and determination, even in defeat, and that he was proud of the players' efforts in difficult conditions.

The players' dedication and hard work throughout the week are evident, and their performance on the weekend is a testament to their commitment. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that their energy and effort are not the issue. The team's efforts have been commendable, and their coach's pride in them has been consistent, whether in victory or not, as seen in the past two weeks.