I've been an apologist for VAR. My general thought is it's the "Right Thing To Do". Why keep getting things wrong when you can correct them?
But the implementation of it is shockingly bad. They just need a bit of common sense. One could argue that the offside decision against Spurs, while wrong, wasn't a "clear and obvious error". He was onside but it was fairly tight. So in a sense I'm OK with that wrong decision standing, or would be IF they were consistent. To be consistent, let that Utd goal stand. And was it Fulham we "scored" against a couple of years back but Saka forgot to trim his toenails that morning so was a pixel offside. That sort of thing is bollox and is spoiling the game. It's getting to the point where you almost can't celebrate some goals because the spectre of VAR hangs over everything.
While we're here, the handball rule is bullshit. It's ridiculous that defenders are now forced to play with their arms behind their back lest they give away a penalty when the ball is blasted at them. These problems don't feel that difficult to solve, like I said a bit of common sense is needed.
all agreed though i think the arms behind the back thing has gone on for a long time
I cannot fathom those decisions in favour of Man Ure (Rashford) and Citeh (can't remember who) where players were deemd 'not interfering with play' - for me any offside player is interfering as the goalie and defenders have to keep half an eye on them - they should scrap that rule IMO
Last edited by Mac76; 02-10-2023 at 10:24 AM.
I agree RE: you feel like you can’t celebrate a goal in case VAR takes it away.
And clear and obvious error seems to be taking five minutes to look for a needle in a haystack, but at the same time making actually ludicrous decisions. You’d be better off letting a machine algorithm do it and then the decision would be made in seconds and less to argue about.
Perversely though I think with VAR, without it. It’s the imperfections and the controversy that adds to the game rather than detracts from it. It generates discussion, arguments etc but given that it was meant to eliminate all that it’s a bit of a joke.
I just think a better way to do that would be internally (not within the PGMOL because it feels like they’ll just close ranks) but the premier league as an organisation stating that a VAR mistake should result in a year’s suspension from officiating at this level, and a second error should involve permanent dismissal from the league. There needs to be more diversity in terms of where referees are from in the country to prevent accusations of a Manchester based stitch up.
Aye, this is the thing. You're never going to get this perfect and as you say these talking points are part of the experience.
But when the thing which is supposed to be removing or reducing these controversies that is actually adding to them it's a bit silly.
The main thing which spoils the experience is the hesitance to celebrate goals - there was always a bit of that, you'd sometimes start celebrating and then see the linesman's flag. But now you're having to wait minutes while all this nonsense goes on.
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Reed, Palhinha, Pereira, Wilson, Jimenez, Willian.
Subs: Rodak, Bassey, Decordova-Reid, Cairney, Ballo-Toure, Muniz, Iwobi, Vinicius, Lukic.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella, Gallagher, Caicedo, Fernandez, Mudryk, Broja, Palmer.
Subs: Petrovic, Sterling, Ugochukwu, Maatsen, Washington, Gilchrist, Brooking, Matos, Madueke.