yeah, it's a fairly long way off thoughWhich is why they've already done it now. For sports with more context behind some of the rules, it will take time to train an AI. But it's not hard for someone who knows what they're doing to train an AI with context. And the decision-making will still be objective, based on rules, unbiased, and instantaneous.
Pretty much agree with everything there, except the offside, it's not subjective, if you're, off you're off, by a rat-tail or whatever. The time it's taking is the major gripe, but there's always teething problems with new technology, this is no different.VAR as it is currently being used isn't fit for purpose ... but it's not the technology itself, it's how it's being applied, and also some of the incredibly daft rules we have in the game ... not necessarily the base rules, but certainly the nuances and, in the case of 'hand ball' the constantly changing interpretation...
Rugby Union (don't watch Rugby League) use the TMO incredibly successfully - they've now moved to actually broadcasting the conversations between the ref and the TMO so that the whole stadium as well as the TV audience (if relevant) know what's being discussed... the main point is that the ref affirms his 'on field decision' but may ask the TMO to check for potential infringements that he'd liked checked - the other case is where the TMO sees something that the ref has not and so alerts him ... 'wrong decisions' are very rare indeed ...
Now on to the problematic footie rules - the major problem is offsides, and there have been some ridiculous decisions based on toenails, big noses or even Bruno Fernandes' rodent tail ...and then the farcical drawing of lines ... rules just need to be changed to 'clear daylight' between the players 'trunk' (nowt else) otherwise, benefit to the attacker if there is none ...
Handball is still problematic but I'd go with hand to ball rather than ball to hand and start from there ...
While at it - cut out ALL holding in the penalty area, of any kind - it really shouldn't be allowed and is automatically a free kick anywhere else on the pitch ...
Have the ref brief both teams on it before the game and give a foul (and penalty) before the set piece is taken if necessary - won't take long to cure it and for the rules to be reflected in how teams then train ...
Here endeth the soapbox![]()
can't wait for AI refs myself, gonna be a long time until it's going to be fit for purpose though, AI is more parlour trick than anything else atm.