Admittedly I have none at the moment but if computers make all the decisions what willl there be left to discuss after the game, in the pub, driving home, in the bus ... It's all part of the game & should be left alone.
It's football. It happens. Better standard of refereeing is the answer. Not cutting it out altogether. Decision making technology doesn't belong in the game.
Are people generally that dull that they only watch football to have a rant about a bad refereering decision?
We have assistants already. They're human. They make mistakes but they also make decisions that are down to incompetence & a lack of understanding of how the game is played. It's these decisions that need addressing, bringing in ex-players as refs would help combat this. Computers, TV replays ... they can stick them up their arses.
I'm not sure I quite understand why you'd rather incorrect decisions be made than simple, unobtrusive technology that will make the correct decision. When we've had goals given due to goal line tech, have you shuddered and cursed, or got on with celebrating a goal? If ex-players wanted to be refs they would be already. They probably don't want the abuse. Not sure it's one that the 'Soccer AM' types will appreciate, and more just people that are happy to see correct decisions made.
Do worry it will be more of a sterile atmosphere though No bad decision = crowd being fiesty and extra vocal Nothing to complain about other than oh darn that opposition player for that goal Think atmopspheres at games will be worse It'll end up like tennis, silent while balls in play
There'll be plenty of subjective decisions being made, don't think they'd be able to bring in VAR for bad tackles, unless they're incredibly blatant, so there'll be plenty of chance to bitch about dodgy handballs not given, bad tackles, etc.
Ex-players should be encouraged, as they are by the FA & PFA to become referees. Unfortunately the Refs Association are not that keen. I'd rather a ref make the decisions & the flow of the game continue. I'd rather feel the emotion of a goal followed by the opposite emotion of it being disallowed rather than stand around for 40 seconds waiting for a decision. I'd rather the game finish as they do now rather than have to wait for all the additional minutes to be added. I'd rather decisions be consistent & made by the same person. I'd rather assistants be encouraged to have the confidence to make decisions instead of following the ref's lead. I'd rather discuss the ref's potential mistakes than discuss nothing. Stop-starting a game along with only double checking selected decisions will be another nail in the coffin.
Who do you think the VAR will be? They'll be a ref as well. As I've just made the point on the podcast, if you had the VAR deciding the De Roon offside, it would take as long as it took Oliver to run over and consult with his assistant. This notion of the VAR making the game stop-start is a bit silly when the game already has long pauses with contentious FKs with opposition players complaining and appealing to refs, or refs having to consult with ARs or fourth refs over their mic. In fact it'd be literally no different to the latter. I think some are just recalcitrant when it comes to this sort of thing.
It happens, but it's wrong and it doesn't always need to happen. The game will always need continually improving ref'ing standards. Technology doesn't make decisions, it provides the officials with better information upon which to make decisions. Yesterday, after their 2nd goal, I reckon the ref and lino spent more time talking to each other about it than it would have taken for a 4th official in front of a tv screen to say 'no goal'. Similarly, for example, the Huddlestone red card and the disputed Sanchez goal.
I doubt VAR would have reversed the De Roon offside goal last night. Because it wasn't that clear from TV replays I've seen whether N'Diaye got a touch on the ball when he went up with Gibson (?) for the header.
Every TV replay has the commentators immediately saying it was way offside, I've no doubt any video ref would have made the same decision.
Worth remembering, the current plans to use video technology here don't actually include reviewing offside decisions.
