VAR: Sponsored by Chelsea

[ricky2tricky4city]

One thing they should immediately stop is the pitch-side review, IMO. If the guys in the studio with a big fudge off monitor and associated tech can't see what's what, then a small screen at the side of the pitch will not illuminate matters any better. Let the VAR tacos make the call.

It obviously for the onfield official. If you've communicated he has missed something or got something wrong, it fair to say he might want to know what or why.

Of course, the officials could all just trust each other and this wouldn't be required

 

[Rorschach]

It obviously for the onfield official. If you've communicated he has missed something or got something wrong, it fair to say he might want to know what or why.

Of course, the officials could all just trust each other and this wouldn't be required

Var should just tell him he is a dopey taco and get on with things.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

One thing they should immediately stop is the pitch-side review, IMO. If the guys in the studio with a big fudge off monitor and associated tech can't see what's what, then a small screen at the side of the pitch will not illuminate matters any better. Let the VAR tacos make the call.

I find it performative and does nothing for the game and certainly doesn't do it quickly

If the refs made a mistake, tell him and over ride it in real time and we can all move on. The whole "you might want to check your decision" fcuk off, you have already decided he is wrong.

Currently the whole thing feels like a social experiment to push the acceptance levels of fans whilst creating an sh1tty working environment for refs who were already having a hard time of it.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

All you're doing is moving the threshold and giving a bit more leeway to the attacker. You'll still have people moaning that it's marginal so shouldn't be offside.

I don't think it helps anyone against VAR to moan about one area of decisions that are objective.
As you say we could move the line to favour the attacker more...but regardless off is off. If you pander to the conclusion people moan about 'oh it's a toe or nose', ok let's just say those ones are onside...the arguing stops? Yeah of course not... 'but he's actually offside'

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

Surely, nobody wants entire matches, league campaigns and even world cups changed by referees incompetence. They are actually changing history when you think about it. It is likely to change our own history this season. Is that fair?

I think if you are accepting of their being human error in all forms of the game then I think its ok. Tel overhead kick might send us down in isolation but I don't wanna see the bloke strung up for it.

In the whole history of the game there have been likely only a small handful of moments like that.

For me its never been enough for what we are seeing now, given we are using tech and getting alot wrong is far more embarrassing that what came before in football

 

[Rorschach]

I don't think it helps anyone against VAR to moan about one area of decisions that are objective.
As you say we could move the line to favour the attacker more...but regardless off is off. If you pander to the conclusion people moan about 'oh it's a toe or nose', ok let's just say those ones are onside...the arguing stops? Yeah of course not... 'but he's actually offside'

The obvious answer is cranial implants. Every player gets a chip implanted in their head. If the chip is offside, then no arguments about noses or toes or anything else that happens to be sticking out. Also, if you do argue, you get a little shock. Nothing too severe, mind. We're not monsters.

Of course then you'll get conspiracy nuts saying the players are being controlled by drone operators or something.

 

[Lost Mango]

It's an interesting concept.

One difference I often explain between football and rugby is substitutions. In rugby one player gets off the pitch quickly but the one that enters needs to be seen to be making an effort to get into position. If they don't then the game continues and it could cost them. Doesn't even occur to the players to time waste, get any adulation from the crowd or go to the point on the pitch that takes longest to head off the pitch. It's because rugby has way more class about it and the players and fans would get one their backs for not getting into position. I can remember a ref getting stick because he hadn't allowed a sub who was making every effort to get on the pitch time to set. It cost a try. That was such a rare moment.

I also like your point about retrospective action especially with yellows. I'm all for the video refs having a look at an incident and then advising the on pitch ref to brandish a yellows up to a minute later. Coud be as innocuous as kicking the ball or not retreating 10 yards when they know they should.

Whilst I'm really tough on the officials, I would be all over these players and managers if the officials went down the path of enforcing the laws. That is with or without tech. They simply don't seem to have the directive or motivation to do so.

Agree with all this.

 

[Muttley]

I think if you are accepting of their being human error in all forms of the game then I think its ok. Tel overhead kick might send us down in isolation but I don't wanna see the bloke strung up for it.

In the whole history of the game there have been likely only a small handful of moments like that.

For me its never been enough for what we are seeing now, given we are using tech and getting alot wrong is far more embarrassing that what came before in football

I think the difference is that Tel has already been punished for it. He should have headed it, decided to try the spectacular and cost his team a penalty. That is all the punishment a football players needs. He'll feel bad enough. Now he needs love.

I absolutely don't feel the same about Howard Webb's lot because they continue to make mistake after mistake, never get any action on them and then act arrogantly to anyone who dares to question their performance and processes, especially Howard himself. Now if they showed some humility, corrective action and owned it more, I'd advocate for them somewhat. P45s are the best corrective action on most of this.

 

[Muttley]

All you're doing is moving the threshold and giving a bit more leeway to the attacker. You'll still have people moaning that it's marginal so shouldn't be offside.

I think I'm trying to bring it back to the spirit of the game and the naked eye. I don't want every fan and player to have to reprogram themselves. We were absolutely fine with using our eyes as fans in stadia and judging when players were level or offside. We were fine with strikers playing off the shoulders of the defenders and finding that place that was level. I just feel that has been taken away from us in the same way because we drew the 2 lines and made 1cm offside. It's calibrating the tech now to find that magic number where level can be back to what it was. Fans will accept 51cm way more than they will 1cm.

 

[DeanoAustin]

I think I'm trying to bring it back to the spirit of the game and the naked eye. I don't want every fan and player to have to reprogram themselves. We were absolutely fine with using our eyes as fans in stadia and judging when players were level or offside. We were fine with strikers playing off the shoulders of the defenders and finding that place that was level. I just feel that has been taken away from us in the same way because we drew the 2 lines and made 1cm offside. It's calibrating the tech now to find that magic number where level can be back to what it was. Fans will accept 51cm way more than they will 1cm.

That's the problem. I'm all for the "spirit of the game" but my "spirit of the game" is very different to someone else's "spirit of the game". It's leaves room for interpretation and room for interpretation brings inconsistency.

Fans weren't absolutely fine with using our own eyes. Officials got absolutely battered for wrong offside calls before VAR. People were moaning every week about it.

Offside is objectively a yes or no question and you can only get a near perfect level of accuracy using VAR. Of all the issues with VAR, offside is near the bottom for me.