Absolute shambles yesterday. That Villa disallowed goal, the Burnley disallowed goal, two penalties not given at Tottenham/Watford, Man City had a really obvious one waved away at Palace. We're always told that VAR is worth the damage it does to the game because it gets decisions right. It really doesn't though does it.
BBC Footballer's beware, there is no escaping VAR. Just ask Holstein Kiel midfielder Michael Eberwein, who is a contender for the unluckiest substitute in sport. Eberwein was warming up behind the goal during a German second division game against Bochum on Friday when he kicked a wayward shot back into play. However, VAR spotted Eberwein had touched the ball before it had crossed the line, prompting referee Timo Gerach to give a penalty and show him a yellow card. It is the sort of innocuous incident that may have passed the officials by in previous seasons, but the presence of the eagled-eye VAR cameras means nothing is now missed. International FA Board (Ifab) rules state if a substitute interferes with play, the referee can take appropriate disciplinary action and restart the game with a direct free-kick or penalty kick. Congo forward Silvere M'Boussy took advantage of the bizarre moment of fortune by converting the spot-kick to bring Bochum level. To make things worse for Eberwein, it is his only touch in a Holstein Kiel shirt since joining from Fortuna Cologne over the summer. He can at least take some consolation from the fact his side went on to win the game thanks to Janni Serra's second-half strike. His experience sends out a message to players everywhere, though - VAR is watching you. Always.
It's had another shocker this weekend. They've obviously been instructed to start awarding some penalties via VAR after being criticised for giving 0 all season until this weekend. But predictably they've over-corrected and ended up giving some absolute shockers. The Man United one against Norwich was an absolute disgrace. I can't see how it could have been any less of a foul by Godfrey, and yet they give a pen after having the benefit of video, it was really quite unbelievable. The real worry here is that in a low-scoring game like football, these moments decide matches. And at the moment the outcome of matches is being decided by who gets the luck with VAR. It's always been sold as something that's worth the problems it brings in terms of ruining enjoyment because it will bring a fairness to decision-making. What we're actually seeing happen is the complete opposite of that. Just get rid of it.
The death knell for VAR? Some player this weekend (I didn't catch who), justified a VAR decision going their way using the old cliché 'it'll even itself out over a season'. We're back to square one, folks. That's another footballing cliché by the way.
VAR doesn't stop Sterling, Mane, Salah and Zaha from diving and still lets them get away with it - so what is the point of it
Its perfectly understandable. We have **** referees making decisions that are then reviewed by **** referees.
Given it's often spoken of (rightly, in my opinion) as being to correct clear and obvious errors, surely some time/review limit should be applied as a clear and obvious error would be apparent immediately. You get one or two looks at the incident and the decision must come within 30 seconds of the ref signalling (or something along those lines). The on-pitch ref doesn't get another look, too. It may get close to working then. I think it could be a reasonable addition to the game with a hefty dose of common sense applied (though I would shed no tears over it being abolished). It is being enforced by imbeciles as things stand, however.
And harry kane, throwing himself to the floor yesterday holding his face, great example of a diving, cheating **** who is the England captain!
****ing shambles. Although I have no love for Arsenal, that was a goal... What use is the screen at the side of the pitch if the ref doesn't use it....Lets be fair, we all knew it would be a bag of crap. And so it has proved.
It was always going to be a total shambles with Mike Riley being connected with it in any way. A shining example of an incompetent referee.
It's a good idea in theory, but is it possible to successfully implement such practically? I suspect it isn't (which would render it a bad idea, by the way).