Last season, before lockdown, I went to Bramall Lane with a Blades pal of mine to watch United against Brighton.
VAR was only called on once in the game which was when George Baldock and a Brighton player went full pelt into.a 50-50 challenge which resulted in the Brighton player requiring treatment.
While this was taking place the big VAR screen flashed up the message "checking possible red card." This was greeted with a prolonged chorus of boos from the home crowd which turned to cheers when the screen eventually said "no red card."
The irony was that the crowd had made the wrong assumption because the red card check was actually for the challenge by the Brighton player but nobody knew that at the time and we didn't find out until after the game.
I'm not a fan of the way VAR is being used and accurate communication is probably just one of a few issues that need to be addressed so that supporters and players know precisely what is being assessed at the time.
Oh dear......get ready, the Ref at Barnsley is Gavin Ward, another of the "gang". Last time out for us was at Preston where surprisingly he did ok. Tends to lose is way in the game, but here's hoping for something...but don't no what.....UTM
Stats for refs In The championship. How the fek has bond got in the top 10!
https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/25...ship-2018-2019
Interesting to see that Bond and Ward have each sent off 7 players, the most by any Championship referee and just under 10% of the total sendings off made by all 37 referees used in the Championship.
It doesnt say whether this number is gross or net of red cards rescinded.
Ignore my last post, the figures are two seasons old. Bond is top of the tree for this season though with 6 out of 69 red cards.
Time to let this one go. Of the last four home defeats, this was the most predictable.
It doesn’t matter though because the damage as been done 😡 but tbh if it’s the only way Crooks doesn’t get a game I’d not recind it 😏
KEITH HACKETT
@HACKETTREF
· 21h
Alan the player was wrongly argued to having used his elbow. Whilst he lead with an outstretched arm and an open hand the contact was in fact the accidental clash of heads. This is football snd I hope that Rotherham United appeal. Wrong decision by Referee Bond. twitter.com/alanbiggs1/sta…