To VAR or not to VAR? that is the question

Seems to be the big talking point this weekend. Is it taking the game away from the supporters who actually attend the game and making football a purely TV experience? Is it slowing the game down and making it boring? or does it help the referees and eliminate travesties of justice?

 

Early days. They'll get better at doing it and informing the crowd. The FA and PL should be in a long dialogue with the RFU.

 

I voted yes, but for me they are doing it incorrectly. It is a public spectacle and shouldn’t be. The decisions should be for penalties and goals. In most cases (not all), the ball is dead, this gives time while arguing, celebrating etc., for the VAR to do his check. It shouldn’t be announced that the referee wants it checked, but he should ask for it via his mic without a big fuss. The BAR should then have a 10-20 second period to check it and if he can’t make his mind up in that time. They stick with the referees original on field decision.

I think that the referee must make an onfield decision first and then discreetly ask for the check. That would cut out the pantomime

 

Yes of course - but in typical fashion, the FA has introduced it in the worst possible way, meaning many will be against bringing in technology to the game because of how it seems.

It should be a smooth process, and currently it isn't.

Plus, I strongly disagree with using it in one match in the same competition as another which isn't using it. Not a level playing field.

 

No for me it's a ****ing farce in its current form. It takes all the excitement of it in terms of celebrating goals etc. And if every goal is going to be reviewed then it's quickly going to ruin the game I love.

It must have been awful for those in the ground last night, and on that note how was there only 4 minutes added on in the first half?

Early days of course but I don't hold much hope.

 

Yeah I don't agree with this either. Should be in every FA Cup match from here on in.

 

Yes - it's early days and some amendments will need to be made but the early signs are very encouraging.

 

They are?

The early signs to me look like it's going to become a ****ing yank sport.

 

What about off the ball incidents though? The VAR can bring it to the referee's attention and advise him to stop the game, like in rugby.

 

There are issues to be ironed out, but I agree with how VAR is being used. The crowd need to be aware of what's going on so replays should be shown on the big screen and the PA announcer should announce when the referee is going to the VAR. For me, it doesn't matter too much if it takes 2 or 3 minutes to get to the right decision, as long as they get to the right decision.

 

I think 3 minutes is too long full stop especially if you're getting multiple reviews a match. I also disagree with it being shown on the screens too as a lot of decisions are subjective so players will still argue like **** about them and it could also incite the crowd in high temporary fixtures.

I'm not really for it as most people know but if it has to be used then there's some basic rules that need to be followed imo, I wrote a post on the pool board last night which I'll try to find in a minute.

But I really really believe that it can't be taking 3 minutes to make a decision.

 

VAR is simply highlighting the ineptitude of those running the game. My two year old has more common sense. TV evidence should be in use full stop. Ban every player that dives. Ban every player that holds in the area at corners. Overturn incorrect yellow cards. Allow appeals using TV footage. The game could be cleaned up within a month. Instead, we have genuine dinosaurs in charge.

 

I'd rather the game be paused for a few minutes every so often if it meant correct decisions would have been made. Only have to look at Doucoure's handball against us two weeks ago to see the benefit of it. It works well in the NFL, Rugby, Tennis etc. Agree it needs a lot of work but I'd rather have it implemented to day and wait a while then not have it at all.

 

I really don't get the comparisons to tennis etc. They're stop start with much more natural breaks in play so it's utterly incomparable for me.

Are you happy to wait 3 minutes for a decision 5 or 6 times a match? Cos eventually my fear is refs will bottle ever making big decisions and review almost everything and it will get ridiculous.

Also as it's going you're going to lose that emotional losing your **** moment for celebrating goals forever.


Like I say it might not be too bad on TV but I bet it was ****ing awful at the ground last night. Then again, who gives a toss about the matchgoing fans as long as the yank and Asian fanboys are happy...

 

Which is why I made my proposal. Just have the referee mic’d up to the VAR and he can tell him while a team is celebrating if it is a goal or not. Give him 10-20 Seconds, but have nobody else look at it and no waiting. If no decision made in that short time, original
Decision stands. Fans and players are none the wiser.

 

In the future yes, but it’s not being used for that now is it?

 

Well it's being used for red cards, so yes, it could be used for that currently.

 

I am 180 degrees from you on this. The moment they put it on a big screen, we’ve lost out Sport. 2-3 minutes is crazy long.

 

No problem with that Tom as that doesn’t take ages or need reviewing.

 

Do you mean these things to be done during the game? If so, it could kill the sport. If for post match reviews, then no problem.