But the media are hardly the bastion of integrity or intellect.
If they removed VAR tomorrow, they'd still hammer the refs just as much and probably complain that VAR should be re-introduced.
The problem is expectations is of perfection, and there is no possible perfection in football due to rule interpretations. We no longer get offside goals allowed, that is a massive improvement, I'd like it to be automated eventually.
Next is fouls in or out the penalty area, these have massively improved too.
Thirdly is handballs, we might not like the way the rule is worded, BUT, the correct result aligned to the rules is applied far better today than pre-VAR.
Everything else, e.g. red card tackles etc. it can be argued either way, but the rules are largely applied better today than 10 years ago with the help of VAR. The howlers and borderline decisions, or harsh-but-correct ones are where the noise is. Part of this is down to fans bias, and refs interpretations which have always been in play, that's not a VAR thing, VAR just lays those decisions out for us all to dissect.
I understand the concerns about lack of instantaneous celebration. However, for me it's sport first entertainment second. Plus better process and automation can reduce that impact.