The technology is definitely there for offside, it's just not VAR. Sensor in the ball, sensor(s) on the players. Let the computer do it far faster and more accurately then any human could. VAR should be for fouls and retrospective on off the ball stuff only. One minute allowed to review a decision, if there's a clear and obvious foul it should take less than that to sort out. Also introduces unbearable 'Countdown' style tension into a game
The problem with VAR as it stands is the rules and how they are interpreted by the officials. In its present for it is overly complicated and they are looking for reasons to disallow or allow a goal. If it is not immediately obvious a mistake has been made then the goal should stand all this measuring in CM is ruining the game. It should be used to get rid of obvious mistakes and blatant cheating including the shirt pulling and shenanigans that go on at corners and free kicks. however if you take the goal Newcastle were awarded against Arsenal I found the conversation very interesting in that the VAR said they had no conclusive evidence the ball was over the line ??? did they have any conclusive evidence that the ball was still in play ??? they then went on to say that they do not believe there was a push that warranted a free kick so the goal stands. I find that hard to believe that a professional referee with the luxury of a replay does not call that a push. However we were told at the start of the season that there have been new instructions to referees regarding players going down to easy and they have to try and let games flow so we do now see a lot more pushes in the back and shoulder nudges let go by referees but now players will take advantage of that and do it more so it wont be long until some manager is crying that their goal was disallowed for less of a push than Joelinton and where is the consistency and to be honest they will be right. The PGMOL should be asking referees to officiate as constructively and fairly as possible. Instead of adding time on at end of game punish time wasters during the game and this will stop. Try and get big decisions right and if a ref is not performing give him more coaching until he does perform and if like Jarred Gillet he makes obvious mistakes because it is his interpretation of the rules then educate him about context and doing the right thing at the right time and use common sense when applying the laws of the game.
It doesn't need AI. People would whinge about it interpreting rules anyway. Put rules in, system works based on rules. No margin for error. Make it the Hawkeye of football, basically.
Well if the tech is there, they certainly aren't using it! For me, unless any corrected decision can be done in almost "real time" then it spoils the game. Never mind it's inconsistencies, it's subjectiveness, and the way the rules are being bent to suit it. It takes too much away the best moment of any game. The crazy, wild and elemental moment of a goal, especially a late one or an important one, is replaced by something different, something other. Something hugely reduced. Not for me until its massively sharpened up, or used in a very different way. But I've never seen the humility in football to learn from other sports.
