not sure which game (guess it happens in most now) during one attack the ball went into the box, resulting in the attacker 'screaming in pain' and rolling about with the usual ankle grip, only to suddenly realise his side had a corner and instantly leapt to his feet...i mean, we all played on the village green with soft trainers and no shin pads and many a time alongside 'the big boys', while they were never over rough they did not hold back and we had to learn fast and took trips and falls in our stride, watching these 'professionals' roll around as if shot at close range is totally pathetic, especially when a slight touch of a hand has them rolling around and in need of treatment. it needs stopping.
For me it all changed when even John Motson ( many years ago) , having needed a slow motion replay from another angle to confirm any touch at all said , quote “well there was contact so he’s entitled to go down”
A version of VAR was always going to happen, impossible to resist when technology is now embedded in every aspect of the modern world. What I don't hear though, is any official acknowledgement that it isn't working as intended or plans to improve it. VAR needs a wholescale review. Take it out for a season, spend as much as it takes to figure out how to make it work better, which will probably include various rule updates and amendments (including scrutinising diving), bring the new system into the next major international tournament and then roll it out again. Also, there is enough money in football that it should be subsidised (or free when needed) so it is installed in every professional league. No reason to be having a different tiers of scrutiny to the rules.
Listening to rugby refs as they discuss whether a particular tackle is nothing, a penalty, a yellow or red card. As they watch a replay... they work through a protocol about is there mitigation or was it too hard/soft. Football does not seem to have a protocol to work through, as you say they need to apply and think about what is really happening. A slight touch is not a foul/penalty if the player goes down from a slight touch or he is obviously waiting to feel a touch before he goes down, its a dive and it should be a yellow or red. Football has it all wrong!
Beeing able to hear the discussion between the ref and VAR team would help things. Apart from the discussions that appear to take place where they look over and over incidents then appear to look at 2 or 3 other things when the first incident isn't clear.
Football officials are light years behind other sports. They thought they could pick up Hawkeye from tennis and just apply it to football but they can't. The embarrassing way the var lines were being drawn last season was horrible. Zero common sense applied and the big teams get all the decisions. It's ****ing corrupt as **** if you ask me.
The offsides where his finger, toe or cock end are offside are frustrating as hell,not sure why that hasn't been amended
The offside law was originated simply to prevent attackers gaining an obvious and unfair advantage. Someone near enough in line isn't cheating and shouldn't be punished. The game needs goals, not slide rules.
This is where an “umpire’s call” type of scenario should be employed. If it’s close (less than a foot or whatever) then go with the linesman.
VAR is the one thing I'm not looking forward to when we get back to the Premier league. Imagine Saturdays goal and the joy it brought, then having to hang around for 4 or 5 minutes while they **** about checking everything
mad long as there’s not clear sight between the attacker and last man in defence it should be allowed/not offside. This ‘his foot is two inches ahead or his shoulder is 3 inches ahead is ****ing stupid’ it goes against the whole ethos of the game.
I have ( and I am not alone) have argued for a buffer zone for offside. Cos from the moment the player touches the ball to pass it and the ball has daylight between his foot and the ball, for the attacker will be probably at least 12 inches of movement. So a buffer of about 6 inches would be sensible.
It's getting worse isn't it, players going to ground to gain a tactical advantage. Where will it end, "And Stenson is down again with what appears to be another existential crisis"
For the first time in ages I watched a match yesterday where neither side did any of that and it was good to see, but then it was 4-0 at half time and neither side broke sweat in the second half so I can't really say they wouldn't have done so if the score had been closer (Wrexham v Altrincham)
Genuine cramp is bloody painful like. I remember it a few times and it really does bring a tear to the eye. I suffered once toward the end of extra time in a cup match and doubt I could have walked off the pitch. I wasnt much use for the last few minutes of the game, even after the obligatory pretendy stretch from a teammate. I was always told it was a dehydration thing and I think football is now much more savvy on fluid intake so I doubt many cramp cases are genuine. The problem of course nowadays is players ard just playing the game and pretending to have cramp. They sit their with no pain on their face saying they have cramp. Same with many injuries used to buy time or disrupt games. It is a managerial tactic. That is the thing that winds me up - managers are the ones bringing it into the game. Some call it game management, some the dark arts. When the opposition do it we call it cheating. The only ones who can cut it out are managers, but they wont. Sadly many of the poorer elements of our game are down to a much poorer quality of manager in the modern game, in the main. A win any way possible mentality is what we have, not a plat better football menrality, across far too much of the game.
