The VAR Debate

[magpie_mania]

Does it? I’m sure there was controversy at the recent World Cup.

I agree that VAR should only deal in factual stuff - Is it offside? did it cross the line? Is there violent conduct that’s been missed?

VAR doesn't look at whether it crossed the line - that is goal-line technology. Seems to work fine.

The problem with offside is that it can say whether it was or not, but people complain that it was only a toenail etc. It's either offside or not, however tight, or why use it? Even if there was a margin of error, it would not make any difference, as if you gave say 50mm leeway, what if it was 51mm?

I really don't know the answer.

[SinceSept1959]

VAR is not fit for purpose without live audio as in both codes of rugby and cricket . What do they need to hide from the fans.
The Howard Webb programmes have highlighted the amount of verbal traffic between the four pitch based officials and the VAR officials during live play. Certainly operational overload and no wonder officials are as confused as the fans !
It's really farcical to suggest a game be replayed because of encroachment at a penalty kick ! There is always encroachment at every spot kick by both attackers and defenders but when did you last see one retaken ?
The game would be better for everyone if the officials applied the basic Laws of the Game honestly !
Standards have been eroded to the point that GKs regularly carry outside the box when kicking clear,
numerous foul throws in a game, stealing yards , simulated diving , blatant time wasting and serious foul play as in the JJ foul yesterday have become acceptable.

[Davy500]

I think VAR has been a necessary evil. For decades folk have moaned about human error in footballing refereeing decisions and pointed to other sports where technology has been used to eradicate this. In football we still have the humans making the decisions and using some technology to help them but the errors persist. Perhaps we can now say we tried it failed and go back to standard ref errors but be a little more accepting of them? Anyway who doesn't love a good ref error if you are not supporting the team on the receiving end of it?

Well there is certainly an aurgument for VAR, in one of games where the stakes are high such as play off matches
Where Notts County recently have been on the wrong side of ref decisions, none more so in the play off fiasco against Coventry , a match with so many official mistakes it was a Joke , then again in the playoffs against Torquay where their first goal was offside, and even later gainst Grimsby town where their second and winning goal in the play offs was deemed offside

[durhampie]

Get rid, there was nothing wrong in the first place.. Its just another money making racket. The only thing we needed was goal line technology. VAR spoils the excitement of a goal being scored...

[ancientpie]

Agreed. Or the systems and rules by which they're using it. There are always going to be controversies and disagreements, but they manage to use VAR in the world cup/European Championships without anything like the major issues or the delays, or at least that's how I remember them.

There's no case that I can see for replaying games due to VAR error like the one in Belgium, even when there's process errors like in the Liverpool-Spurs games. Those are just misapplications of the laws of the game, and that's always happened.

VAR should be for clear and obvious errors only - otherwise, on-field decision stands. If it takes several minutes to work it out, that's neither clear nor obvious as an error. No re-refereeing. We need clear criteria for when the referee gets invited to come to the monitor... I can't work out what the rule is for that... why does it happen some times and not others? If it's because the VAR officials can't make up their minds, then the on-field decision stands. Oh, and stop giving quite so many decisions to the Big Sky Teams.

Pretty much sums up my thoughts exactly, I still believe that VAR was only accepted because they said it would only be used to stop clear & obvious errors & to punish diving, it's just not working that way.

[i961pie]

Hate the offsides for a toe being in front of the defender, what the frick is that all about. Not a clear and obvious error so why intervene? Spontaneity of celebrating a agoal removed.

At least the toe is part of the foot and it is called FOOTball. It's when it's ruled offside when his elbow or shoulder or even shirt sleeve is used is ridiculous imo.

[drillerpie]

At least the toe is part of the foot and it is called FOOTball. It's when it's ruled offside when his elbow or shoulder or even shirt sleeve is used is ridiculous imo.

It's any part of the body that can be used to play the ball, so foot obviously yes, shoulder yes, elbow should never have happened in theory at least.

[kill_the_drum]

For me VAR should only be used for offside but I’d happily see it scrapped all together.
It’s killing the game as a spectacle.
I have no issue with a toe being offside as the margin will be questioned wherever you draw the line. It just needs to be quick and accurate.

[magpie_mania]

VAR is not fit for purpose without live audio as in both codes of rugby and cricket . What do they need to hide from the fans.
The Howard Webb programmes have highlighted the amount of verbal traffic between the four pitch based officials and the VAR officials during live play. Certainly operational overload and no wonder officials are as confused as the fans !
It's really farcical to suggest a game be replayed because of encroachment at a penalty kick ! There is always encroachment at every spot kick by both attackers and defenders but when did you last see one retaken ?
The game would be better for everyone if the officials applied the basic Laws of the Game honestly !
Standards have been eroded to the point that GKs regularly carry outside the box when kicking clear,
numerous foul throws in a game, stealing yards , simulated diving , blatant time wasting and serious foul play as in the JJ foul yesterday have become acceptable.

The game would be better for everyone if the players applied the basic laws honestly.

[SinceSept1959]

Thoroughly agree if the players displayed sportsmanship and honesty. The referees , however , should be in charge on the pitch !
The irony is that these players cheat their fellow pros (and fans) throughout the game and then embrace each other like long lost relations after the game !
Of course our esteemed peers , commentators and summarisers prefer to call it clever "game management."