The VARometer of LaLiga Santander LaLiga Santander Barcelona, Valladolid and Sevilla the most unhappy

Only five weeks in the LaLiga Santander season have passed and VAR is already grabbing the headlines.

Many decisions made by the video referee have been questioned so far but Jesus Gil Manzano's dismissal of Clement Lenglet was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Barcelona have strongly protested against the decision even to the point where they are questioning the system itself.

In Spain's top flight, the majority of players and coaches appear to be in favour of VAR and they consider that it's making football fairer although it does on occasion stop the game too much. On the opposite side you have Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Valladolid.

Barcelona distrust the system

Ernesto Valverde was already suspicious of VAR before the controversial Lenglet red card and it was scant consolation that Valladolid had a goal chalked out for offside against Barcelona earlier in the season. Or that in the same match, Ousmane Dembele's goal was given even though Sergi Roberto appeared to have assisted the Frenchman with the ball out of play.

Barcelona matches are always a perfect test for VAR. The only game to end without video intervention was their opening day win over Alaves. In the Spanish Super Cup, they conceded a goal from Pablo Sarabia which the linesman had wrongly ruled out for offside. In the league, they celebrated a Luis Suarez goal against Huesca that the referee had initially not given. Then there was the penalty that wasn't awarded when Gerard Pique appeared to be fouled at the Estadio Anoeta, when VAR wasn't even consulted. Finally, the infamous Lenglet elbow which led to a whole host of comments from players like Sergio Busquets. "There is no aggression, it's clear that many referees haven't played football," he said.

Real Madrid, happy

Los Blancos have appeared to be consistently in favour of VAR. The technology has allowed a number of their goals, the latest a Marco Asensio strike against Espanyol which Antonio Mateu Lahoz had incorrectly disallowed for offside. The player recognised after that "VAR had worked well".

Simeone sees it as fairer

There have been no complaints about VAR in Atletico Madrid, although president Enrique Cerezo did say last season that he wasn't "in favour". However, on Monday, Diego Simeone said that VAR is helping football and that "it goes hand-in-hand with justice, with little details to improve on".

Machin, very angry

Pablo Machin has arguably been the most fierce critic of VAR. After Roque Mesa's red card against Real Betis for an innocuous challenge, the Sevilla boss exploded at Jesus Gil Manzano: "When you have the technology to see it... please, you can't send off a player for that, because it would be a penalty, it would be a red card for the goalkeeper and it would completely change the game. The BAR is the place to have beer, VAR is to give justice".

The worst VAR in history

Real Valladolid, on their official website, made their annoyance with the technology known. "The worst VAR in history", they said of the video referee in their game against Celta Vigo. There was a possible Maxi handball for the second goal, a pull in the box on Kiko Olivas and a potential second yellow for Junca.

In favour even in the bad times

Criticism for VAR usually comes when a decision has gone against your team. However that's not the case for Alaves, Espanyol and Villarreal. The team from Vitoria believe "football is fairer" with it. The Catalans have stood in favour of VAR despite having a Sergio Garcia goal ruled out in the Estadio Mendizorroza. The Yellow Submarine also recognised that, when they had a goal disallowed against Girona, "It's not an excuse, it was rightly overturned".

Half satisfied

This is the case for Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano. These two teams have been in favour or not depending on their best interests. Quique Setien openly complained in week one about a possible penalty on Sergio Canales. "I don't understand how, having VAR, they didn't review the incident," he said. However, the coach has also given his approval: "Before I wasn't a supporter [of VAR], but I have seen it working and it helps get the correct decisions.

The same happened at Rayo as Michel has been happy with VAR: "I am sure they are using the same criteria for everyone," he said. However, Raul de Tomas was very critical after having a goal ruled out against Huesca: "I was getting pulled back and I tried to get him off me to score. It's a foul against him".

Mendilibar doesn't like it

The Eibar boss Jose Luis Mendilibar has always been against the technology: "Sometimes it gives me the feeling that the referee is in Madrid," he admitted. In the Estadio Ipurua on the opening day, his side complained when VAR wasn't used to give them a penalty against Huesca when they were losing 2-1.

Improve it with time

Athletic Club coach, Eduardo Berizzo, is far from against VAR but believes it can be improved over time: "The idea of VAR is admirable because it gives justice, but I don't agree with how it interrupts matches. I believe that they'll have to have a look at changing it".

Pellegrino, sceptical

In game week two the Leganes boss Mauricio Pellegrino was left confused: "When they explained VAR to us, I thought it would help a lot. But why didn't they look at the handball and therefore penalty? I don't know... this time it has gone against us".