How far does it go back? If the ball accidentally strikes a players arm in the opposition half, you may as well kick it out for a throw or catch it to give away a free kick as you can't score a goal. Aside from all of that it's beyond ****ing ridiculous disallowing goals for minor things that wouldn't have a second look in previous years. It's taking the emotion out of the game, we're celebrating technology more than the football happening on the pitch ffs. As I said, and I can only speak for myself, it's just not football to me anymore. It's not the same game I've loved attending for the past 15 years or so.
I understand the intentions of the law. In theory it sounded like a good thing but in practice it's not really working.
Rule wouldn't exist without VAR The PL have been happy to ignore IFAB advice elsewhere anyway so why not here? They should at least restrict it to in the area. Anyway, I'd argue that this notion of trying to achieve perfection with the rules is a big part of the problem. VAR was never intended to be used in that way.
The law is stupid. VAR just applied it, which is what it has to do. If VAR didn't apply the law you'd only have Sheffield United fans moaning that VAR isn't working and isn't enforcing the laws. They do need to look at that rule though. That's a harsh one on the Hammers, but the 'correct' decision was made.
Yep, my thoughts exactly. Once Mike Riley realises he's being a twat and starts using VAR properly it will be a good thing for the PL. But at the end of the day you don't know something's going to be bad until you've tried it. The handball law will be amended again I'm sure.
Declan Rice has made himself look a bit of a fool in that interview, the way he doesn’t understand how VAR works
I found this bit interesting: "I think it is the thoughts of every Premier League player, not just me - pretty much every one doesn't want to have VAR in the game. There have been so many decisions this season that have been absolutely crazy. They were celebrating VAR like it was a goal and football should not be like that. We are not too happy but it is in the game now and we have to get on with it.
Sounds awfully subjective, surely it needs to better defined than that if 'rules are rules'? Even so, you could have a 'handball' near the halfway line on a counter attacking that could be just as close to a goal being scored. Like I've said before, it's ridiculous that we're disallowing goals for minor things that have such a small impact on the goal, if any, but you can score from a corner that wasn't and it's sound.
David Moyes was just as bad, if not worse. It was as if Moyes has no idea about the change to the handball rule. (The interviewer didn't help either, with either interview. He clearly came across as very anti-VAR, and kept on steering Rice and Moyes to blame VAR rather than blame the new handball rule. Despite the fact that the handball is universally hated by all, with anyone open to see if getting slated in an interview.)
(The interviewer didn't help either, with either interview. He clearly came across as very anti-VAR) Yeah, I'm no fan of it, but the radio commentary team and after match analyse team were just cringe worthy with their comments. When it gets it wrong, it deserves slating, when it follows the rules we mustn't paint it to be something else. They were borderline hysterical.
I just watched the 'goal'. VAR isn't in the wrong, the handball rule is. Though to be fair this was more than a slight tap, admittedly the ball was played onto him by the opposition, but his arm controlled the ball and they would not have got the chance if it were not for the arm bring the ball back in to his feet. Controversial maybe, but a good decision IMO.
