Quote Originally Posted by MadAmster View Post
Ah, but, "clear and obvious" is the FIFA instruction as to how VAR should be used. It was Sky and the EPL who first spent the millions on the technology to be able to judge to the millimetre. In the beginning other National FAs couldn't afford it. As it became cheaper they followed. I am most adamant in my opinion that the Coventry decision was not a "clear and obvious error by the ref's assistant". IMO, he got it right. Too close to call with the human eye so the "benefit of any doubt" went to the attacker, and, almost too close to call taking 4 minutes of close scrutiny using some very expensive hard- and soft-ware. Ergo, it was not a clear and obvious error.
I'd agree, in that its not VAR that's the issue, but the manner in which the FA have implemented it and the jobsworths who are responsible for the decisions.

It should be simple, use it to clarify a decision where the ref or ass ref may have got it wrong. In every other game where VAR wasn't being used Coventry's goal would have stood. If we go down to that kind of scrutiny on decisions, you may as well remove the person running the line and use an AI machine.

For the sake of the game offside, which after all was introduced to stop "goal hanging" should always favour the attacker where its marginal. Nobody would have challenged Coventry's goal but for VAR.

I'm also at a loss as to how Attwell became a "top" referee, he is often noted as having made contentious decisions and this one tops the lot. Completely destroyed the integrity of the game this has.

With respect rA, the finishing line judgement on athletics is there to judge the finish, its a clear line, drawn in advance with the camera set up to record the athletes as they cross it, there is no such clear line in an offside, its drawn by the VAR operators after the event and can vary widely, so there is a big difference.