I'm 50/50 on the decision, the fact that he turned his back maybe meant that he deserved the penalty to be awarded against him. Again though, VAR causing bigger controversy than any controversy caused without it. Get rid!
Aye. It was a pen for me for that reason, turned back and arm out, but there’s one of those almost every game not given without VAR.
I'd rather decisions from incidents like this be down to the referees interpretation at the heat of the moment. The ref then has an excuse for being wrong. It must be a nightmare being that particular ref last night, even when looking at a replay from many different angles, still having that huge doubt in his head that whatever the decision he comes too he still might be wrong. The daft bastard still not getting it right even after numerous replays??? The pressure must be intense. Imagine if he made the opposite decision, I'm sure half of Manchester would be ablaze by now. I would say that people are split 50/50 on that decision last night even after a replay. I would also say that whatever VAR decision the ref made last night would have been understandable. Too many grey areas in football for VAR to work for me. It puts a different kind of pressure on referees, a one that if I were in their shoes I wouldn't like. I'd certainly want a pay rise.
By the way, who actually tells the referee that there might have been reason to look at the replay? 4th official?
Yes mate, panel of 3 watch and shout him if it’s debatable, he can still refuse and play on, take their word or, as last night view and review. I’m with you, said all along I ain’t keen and that controversy is a massive org of what makes our game the greatest.
Sounds a bit to dodgy to me. Could leave the whole process open to fixing. Should be down to a captain or manager, given 1 chance per game to ask the ref to look at a replay.
Someone suggested that and I think it’s a great idea. Italian teams would use there’s for the kick off
They do it in Cricket. Each teams get a couple of reviews, each innings. The 50/50 calls are always a dilema early in the game because teams don't want to use them and miss out at the end of the match.
Tennis too mate, so they may look at it down the line. In tennis if you are correct you don’t ‘lose the life’ as such.
Think that's the thing - if a decision isn't given and you appeal and turns out you were right (as in cricket and tennis) then you shouldn't lose an appeal. Although I do still think it should only be used for absolute 100% decisions that are not open to interpretation (Like Offside and Goal Line!)
I keep on about how well the system works in Rugby, (both codes), Cricket and Tennis, so how come it's a shambles in our game? It seems to me that the main problem is with penalties for Handball.. It's OK at offsides and will no doubt work well enough for bad tackles but it's handball incidents that cause the debates. And it's VAR or the REF or the Adjudicator(if that what he's called) who get the blame. Might I suggest that the blame lies with the rule itself. It's not remotely clear. Intentional hand ball? Who can read minds to know intent? Playing the ball intentionally? Apparently there's no such thing as a reflex action. We have all seen penalties given for balls striking a hand when it would have been impossible to get the hand out of the way. On other occasions a player might move his hand to protect his face, or other part, and be struck by the ball. Come up with your own examples. Then of course I've never understood where the hand stops and the body starts, anatomically, in respect of this rule. Get the rule re-written. Make it clear and unambiguous. Then see if VAR works. (But PLEASE not just the ball hitting the hand. If we had that, the more skilful player would have shooting at hands off to a Tee).
There are far more variables in football the tennis, cricket and rugby, that’s the fundamental issue.
The blurred handball rule and VAR do not go hand in hand. Thats why handballs should only be given by the ref, on the spot, using his blurred mind.
Gordon, at time you amaze me. You, the one who has spent a lifetime, (or at least it seems like a lifetime to us, your readers,) being pedantic in the extreme about the English Language, then you make such a claim. Should we rename it 'ARMBALL' then? please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Sorry. My response was bellow the belt. No doubt in your terms this would be below the armpits!!! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
At least Pep G, has the honesty to say if VAR had been at the Swansea v ManC game they probably would not have won. The penalty was not a pen, the defender got the ball, Stetling went down, some say he dived some say he didn't (he did), he always does he is just very good at it . ManCs winning goal was offside
