Has VAR gone beyond a joke?

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invermeremike

invermeremike

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2011
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British Columbia Canada
How on earth did football survive when the referees didn't have the back-up of an outfit like Bletchley Park backed up by trigonometrical geniuses with computer programmes that measure in thousandths of an inch? The answer is perfectly well for well over a century so why now are we accepting this nonsense ruining the game by over analyzing details that the referee has literally no chance of spotting with the naked eye and some person intervenes to make a decision away from the pitch? I also think the standard of officiating will deteriorate given that someone else will step in and get the ref off the hook when needed.

I will agree that some of the decisions that are over-turned are correctly applied but the offside rule has become blurred to the point where I believe it needs a major overhaul in order not to become the factor in the ruination of the game. Having refereed for many years I must confess that I not totally sure what constitutes an offside any more and in those days it was so much more simple but today it seems that if any part of the body falls afoul of trig functions then the player is deemed offside. Is a player's finger tip going to score a goal or is it more likely that a leg might put the ball in the net? The sport is called football for a reason and for me the only possible answer is to concentrate on where the defender's and the forward's legs are in relation to one another and the one furthest forward determines whether or not it is offside.

Lots of discussion to be had here and various scenarios will arise based on individual's opinions but the use of a system that was introduced originally to monitor the goal line has taken itself too far for me and some of the decisions beggar belief and needs serious consideration as to it's part in dragging the game downwards. The Man Utd match today is a classic example as to why some of us are scratching our heads.:headbang:
 
invermeremike said:
How on earth did football survive when the referees didn't have the back-up of an outfit like Bletchley Park backed up by trigonometrical geniuses with computer programmes that measure in thousandths of an inch? The answer is perfectly well for well over a century so why now are we accepting this nonsense ruining the game by over analyzing details that the referee has literally no chance of spotting with the naked eye and some person intervenes to make a decision away from the pitch? I also think the standard of officiating will deteriorate given that someone else will step in and get the ref off the hook when needed.

I will agree that some of the decisions that are over-turned are correctly applied but the offside rule has become blurred to the point where I believe it needs a major overhaul in order not to become the factor in the ruination of the game. Having refereed for many years I must confess that I not totally sure what constitutes an offside any more and in those days it was so much more simple but today it seems that if any part of the body falls afoul of trig functions then the player is deemed offside. Is a player's finger tip going to score a goal or is it more likely that a leg might put the ball in the net? The sport is called football for a reason and for me the only possible answer is to concentrate on where the defender's and the forward's legs are in relation to one another and the one furthest forward determines whether or not it is offside.

Lots of discussion to be had here and various scenarios will arise based on individual's opinions but the use of a system that was introduced originally to monitor the goal line has taken itself too far for me and some of the decisions beggar belief and needs serious consideration as to it's part in dragging the game downwards. The Man Utd match today is a classic example as to why some of us are scratching our heads.:headbang:
Click to expand...

In regards to offside there are three scenarios. Call confirmed (evidence conclusively shows the on-field call is right), call reversed (evidence conclusively shows the on-field call is incorrect), and call on the field stands (the video evidence does not clearly indicate the call was correct of incorrect). These calls frequently involve miniscule measurements applying this to offside - VAR very frequently has to prove the referee to be wrong.

The above is applied to offside a rule with a black and white interpretation. VAR is also used for rules that are subjective. Referees again will be frequently wrong.

I also think the standard of officiating will deteriorate given that someone else will step in and get the ref off the hook ... VAR does the opposite it undermines the ref.
 
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I was supportive of VAR originally as a tool for the referee to call upon if he needed reassurance when making a big decision (ie a penalty or a sending off).
However, the way it is currently being applied is utter rubbish and we were better off as we were before.
It begs the question as to whether it has been introduced by someone who hated VAR in the first place, so they've tried to make it SO unpopular it will end up being withdrawn - which was the intention all along.
 
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bcfcredandwhite said:
I was supportive of VAR originally as a tool for the referee to call upon if he needed reassurance when making a big decision (ie a penalty or a sending off).
However, the way it is currently being applied is utter rubbish and we were better off as we were before.
It begs the question as to whether it has been introduced by someone who hated VAR in the first place, so they've tried to make it SO unpopular it will end up being withdrawn - which was the intention all along.
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VAR has meant that there are multiple opportunities to get big decisions right, and yet we were somehow still better off before VAR came along whether the ref and linespersons called the decisions correctly or not.
It's beyond a joke and should be scrapped immediately.
They tried it, it didn't work, they should move on.
 
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The phrase which sums up its usefulness is ‘ clear and obvious’, used in those circumstances I believe it could be a useful tool, but it’s never been used that way so it’s a definite no for me. It just spoils the spectacle on many levels .
 
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I'm Ok with the goal line calls but a lot of the rest needs to be dumped. When the decisions are made off-field the integrity of the game and the referee are brought in to doubt. The after match reviews as to whether a tackle was deemed to be dangerous and deserved a red card is something I can accept because the ref can't see everything.
 
Angelicnumber16 said:
VAR has meant that there are multiple opportunities to get big decisions right, and yet we were somehow still better off before VAR came along whether the ref and linespersons called the decisions correctly or not.
It's beyond a joke and should be scrapped immediately.
They tried it, it didn't work, they should move on.
Click to expand...
The offside rule with what appears to be the stud of a boot or a finger nail has made VAR a farce.......
I agree with RP :emoticon-0106-cryin
Just goal line technology would do me...and perhaps.............................Better refs!!!
 
oneforthebristolcity said:
The offside rule with what appears to be the stud of a boot or a finger nail has made VAR a farce.......
I agree with RP :emoticon-0106-cryin
Just goal line technology would do me...and perhaps.............................Better refs!!!
Click to expand...
For me it needs to be all or nothing.

Fair enough that we need to know if the ball has crossed the goal line, but this doesn't solve the penalty/no penalty, handball, or offside decisions that are needed.
 
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Was this a foul?

For myself its a unequivocal no.
 
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AshtonRed said:
The ref got it wrong IMO, if that’s now classed as a foul there really is no point in football anymore, & son went down like he’d been shot , I still say no foul, book Son for simulation
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I agree no foul and book Son but what I found interesting is that the majority of qualified refs in the link think it is a foul on Son. However 40% do not. It highlights the subjective nature of football rules. With the use of VAR either 40 or 60% of referees here decide on a right/wrong conclusion.
 
I have noticed so many players going down like they have been shot and then 2 minutes later look like a star, despite screaming in agony during their supposed foul. The game and the referees are being taken for mugs by players with a total lack of respect for the game.
 
invermeremike said:
I have noticed so many players going down like they have been shot and then 2 minutes later look like a star, despite screaming in agony during their supposed foul. The game and the referees are being taken for mugs by players with a total lack of respect for the game.
Click to expand...

Its sixteen minutes but I thought Danny Murphy makes some good points.

"BERKS LIKE GARY LINEKER" Heated Simon Jordan & Danny Murphy debate following Son/Cavani VAR scandal - YouTube

Players and their Managers won't worry about respect unless the officials and authorities make them.
 
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Only in the premier league is that a foul because of var. if var was used all over the pitch at any other level there would be no game just var.
 
I watched the game and although the end result of the foot hitting the player looked ugly it was only on a follow through that posed no intent. VAR can ruin not just the game but it's integrity unless they use it only for goal line decisions and not to usurp the on-field officials.
 
Thought I would come back to this thread. Chillwells nostril was offside in the cup final. A case of if you look hard enough a offence will be found somewhere in any goal = Justifying the use of VAR, we have it and we will use it to be important,

Meanwhile in another game Jack Grealish can be clear as day heard abusing the ref directly "****ing **** etc.. ". Zero action. None by the FA. No debate by pundits.
 
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