:ross:
I've been watching football for 35 years, I've never known a time when people respected referees or had any confidence in them, with the odd exception of Colina, and that Russian bloke, all TV and VAR have done is highlight the incompetence of humans
I don't think it was better before, at least the issue is under the microscope now, and I believe the percentage of correct decisions is still higher than it was before VAR came in, the authorities are to blame for not changing quick enough, simplify the rules and take the responsibility away from one person, the ref on the pitch should just be the relay between the game and those with the replays and angles
as someone who has refereed a lot of youth games, you are spot on about grass roots games though, we are all volunteers, and if anything, I've always made sure I couldn't be accused of being biased to my team