What happens if the A-League grand final is settled by the Video Assistant Referee? Would we be happy for the biggest game of all to be decided by technology?
Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe looked like he was going to blow a gasket in his side’s 3-0 semi-final defeat to Sydney FC last weekend.
Why wouldn’t he, given that his side was on the wrong end of two crucial VAR decisions?
But were they on the wrong end? Technically the VAR got both decisions correct – even if Jordy Buijs’ goal was hotly contested.
Fox Sports commentator Simon Hill called the game in question, and the affable Mancunian came in off the long run during the week in describing the influence of VAR technology.
“In football, the VAR system is the modern form of compensation – for a mollycoddled world that sees injustice at every turn, and believes technology is always the answer,” Hill thundered.
“Coaches have led the way in this regard with their petulant behaviour on the sidelines,” he added for good measure.
I don’t often disagree with Hill – and I’m certainly not about to start here.
He’s right when he says the poor behaviour of coaches has largely gone unchecked, and he’s also entitled to question why Football Federation Australia would spend $500,000 on a VAR system when they’re supposedly skint.
But Hill hit the nail on the head when he described the most pernicious aspect of the VAR system – and it was somewhat evident last weekend – when he said that it takes away from the natural act of celebrating a goal.
“If the VAR system becomes a permanent feature, it will take much of the spontaneity out of the most joyous act on the football field – that of hitting the back of the net,” Hill said.
I was willing to give the VAR system a chance – not necessarily because I thought it would benefit the game, but mainly because I felt like its introduction was inevitable.
But having been used so extensively last weekend, I’ve already seen enough.
One of football’s strengths has always been the element of human involvement, with refereeing decisions said to even out over the course of a season.
The VAR system may diminish the scope for human error in a major clash like the A-League grand final, but as Hill rightly points out, it takes away from the spontaneity of the game as well.
It’s not the only contentious aspect of Sunday’s title decider, with the debate around the finals series refusing to die down.
The answer is simple: because that’s the system all ten A-League clubs agree to when they kick off every season.
I helped cover the 2011-12 A-League grand final for Grandstand – when Brisbane Roar came from behind to beat Perth Glory 2-1 in front of more than 50,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium – but according to their latest logic, one of our code’s most memorable fixtures shouldn’t even have taken place.
Instead, the Central Coast Mariners should have been crowned Australia’s best team that season – even better than Ange Postecoglou’s Brisbane Roar – and they should have been awarded the trophy in Round 25 in front of 9,000 fans in Wellington.
You’d think our national broadcaster might at least show some respect to history, but presumably we’re just supposed to ignore the 11 preceding A-League grand finals – not to mention no less than 20 National Soccer League grand finals – simply because that’s the way they do things elsewhere.
The ABC might suffer from a cultural cringe, but the finals series is going nowhere.
So too, it seems, is the VAR system.
How do we feel about it? Has it been used appropriately so far? Or does it have the potential to ruin the most important game of all?
Swanny
Guest
V a r is a disaster Just like the video ref in nrl
Chris
Guest
As much as it hurts, that was a pen and I agree even with the VAR, Italy would have been given a penalty. Neil said it himself, "should have stayed on my feet".
Lionheart
Guest
I didn't read Simon Hill's article but I do normally enjoy what he has to say, certainly much more so than his peers at Fox who seem to me to be horribly biased toward their former clubs. Hill gives a fairly balanced and fair commentary on the game from what I have heard and read, no matter what club is involved. His point about the $500K investment into VAR by FFA is also quite astute, and the sideline comments that coaches have made largely unrestrained for some years now. No wonder the clubs walked away from the FFA in their recent meeting.
Lionheart
Guest
My favourite moment of season 2016-17 was seeing Ninkovic sub'd and then steam off the pitch, ignore Arnie, kick a chair and throw a water bottle into someone. Second favourite moment, same game, seeing Brosque sub'd, reacted but not as strongly as Ninkovic . Moments to treasure.
BES
Roar Rookie
Scrap the VAR - but scrap the current elongated and totally necessary finals process as well. 12 seasons have surely now taught us conclusively that it is only ever 1 of the top 2 finishing teams that gets the toilet seat - so why do we continue to bother with the charade of involving 6 teams? The pathetic crowds at the finals games this year would appear to prove that the public have lost interest in them as well. Run the normal season - award the actual best team with the trophy that matters - the Premiership, then stage a 1-off winner takes all game between 1 and 2 to allow the media and the run of the mill sports fan to have their day in the sun and everyone is happy.
punter
Guest
I think this is what I said above.
steve
Guest
Think you mean there is nothing worse than looking at 27 different angles 46 times and still getting the decision wrong. All we need now if for three captains challenges each half from both sides, one for each coach, assistant coach and the kit man and then we can turn a 90 minute nil all draw into a four hour extravaganza of boredom. Or we can simply introduce goal line technology and be done with the rest of it.
Cool N Cold
Guest
haha
Griffo
Roar Guru
I think that the danger will be if there is an interruption between goal and celebration, more so if the VAR is leaned on heavily to confirm the decision more and more. Given it's only been in existence for a number of weeks it might be too early to say. If the goals are clear cut there won't be that delay imo. Nor will there be if the referee trusts his own judgment, which in certain circumstance the VAR will overrule anyway - we'll have both a goal celebration and then the player castigation for disallowed goal then. Good fodder for TV and next week's media. Like everything there is an area of grey and when there is an opportunity to ensure the rules are clearly not in breach, and that grey colour comes into it, there will be those occasions where the VAR takes center stage. When we use to take issue with the ref taking that spotlight, how will we feel about the system then? It's then we'll see whether the system is able to be adjusted by the A-League, or whether FIFA will lock it's format in place...
Griffo
Roar Guru
Funny that it's still Muscat as the poster boy of referee 'discussion' over a decision, but not Lowe. It might be Arnold as well but he may not have had much experience of a VAR decision against him yet... Just another Edison vs Bayonet light bulb iconography moment there.
AR
Guest
Because Foxtel decides when the Grand Final is played. I.e - Sunday prime time to maximise the ratings. Same as the NRL.
punter
Guest
Nor mine!!!!
punter
Guest
You are asking the VAR for facts. Was Bobo Offside? YES. Did Bobo interfere with play? No clear evidence based on replay that he did or didn't, ref's call. Ref's call, he did not, Goal.
Brian
Guest
But your assuming the ref thought djulbic couldn't get to the ball. What if the ref though bobo was onside? Your asking var to give a verdict but not consider all the facts
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Will definitely lookout for Ninkovic. Good luck to your boys on the weekend.
Nemesis
Guest
"the VAR is only there to judge on the the situation where is no doubt." I don't actually think this is true. The VAR is only there to correct "clear & obvious error" made by the ref. As I see it, this will only occur when a ref has seen something incorrectly. Eg the ref doesn't see a handball in the box; or sees a handball but it wasn't a handball. Clear & obvious error. If the ref had disallowed Bujlis's goal; the VAR would not have over-ruled the ref. And the goal would not have stood.
Ian
Guest
Neill's foul would still have the same outcome. That's what happens when you fall over in front of an attacking player in your own penalty box. Perhaps the extent of blame of who was at fault may be different though.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Ahh that game. Yes, it can be stupId at times. Not my favourite sport though by a long shot.
punter
Guest
How could anyone not like Golf? I think he was talking about that football code that resembles pigeons fighting over some chips.
punter
Guest
Exactly right, the VAR's only decision was that there was no clear evidence that the defender was or was not interfered with, by the player in the offside position, so whatever decision the ref made stood. The ref, like me thought there was no way the defender was getting anywhere near that ball before the attacker, hence no interference. So this is a decision by the ref was us to still debate, the VAR is only there to judge on the the situation where is no doubt.