Although the Video Assistant referee (VAR) system has recently started in England on a trial basis after being around for two years elsewhere, I can only say, in my humble opinion – I hate it.
True, it’s like Marmite or Vegemite – you either love it or hate it, but at the moment you certainly can’t ignore it!
Some people in the UK have been saying it’s a breath of fresh air to the game, but I feel differently.
It’s been brought in to stop some decisions being overlooked and also to try and stop players arguing with the officials, but even when the ref has had a look at the TV screen and finally gives his decision, the answer still doesn’t always go down well, and the ref is surrounded by angry players, as always.
The main thing I find annoying about it though is the time that it wastes.
If there is something the ref wants to double check, he then has to notify the VAR person and then spends a few minutes staring at a screen watching the incident go back and forth in real time, and slowed down and at different angles until he can finally make a decision.
If it happens only once in a game, it’s not too much of a problem as long as the correct decision in finally made. But, if the ref has more of a conscience, or is indecisive, it can happen a few times.
When this is all added up, it stops play which in turn wastes more time and reduces the flow of what could be an entertaining match.
And, of course, the poor man in the middle will also be criticised if he doesn’t stop to look at the VAR, and decides to go with his gut instinct instead.
I can see if it’s used in the World Cup, that some games are going to go on for nearly two hours instead of 90 minutes, and if it’s a drab 0-0 draw it’s hardly going to be a great advert for the beautiful game is it?
I can see the point of it in rugby league, where the ref can’t see whether a try has been scored because of the massive amount of bodies all around where the oval ball has landed.
And certainly goal-line technology has been a positive point in football as well, but at least that is a black or white decision-making system, whether it has crossed completely over the line or not.
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The VAR still has to be decided on by a human being, and whether the positioning of the VAR cameras are in the right place at the right time for a correct decision to be made.
If not, then the referee still gets the stick and 50 per cent of the fans in the ground will be on his back –
nothing new there then!
Looking on the bright side though, at least only Premier League matches and higher levels of the game are having this experiment, which will make our brilliant non-league football much more attractive to the people who want blood and thunder soccer, where errors are part and parcel of the game and controversy gives you all something to talk about in the bar after the match.
Kangajets
Guest
V a r. Technology is not making the game better or fairer . Let’s accept refs make mistakes. Punishment for missed sending offs can be done by match review committee Rugby league was a good template for how technology can ruin a good sport , but football didn’t learn from it .
Nemesis
Guest
But, that's not a problem if we understand that the VAR is simply allowing the ref to change his decision if the footage shows he made a clear error. Imagine in your job, you have to make real-time split second decisions. But, you are given the opportunity to review the decision by looking at a replay of the the event. If you're good at your job, you will rarely change the decision. But, you might be able to be even better if you can eliminate human observation errors.
mattyb
Guest
The problem with VAR is the same problem with every other sport that uses technology. There's nothing wrong with the technology,its just that we get officials to watch the footage and they make an error,just like a match official would do,even though using technology should be far easier. Tennis is a sport where technology has helped,because their game and technology is far more suited to completely bypassing human error. Fencing would be another,and again their technology can just bypass humans.
Nemesis
Guest
Based on my experience watching ALeague using VAR, I would suggest the problem is not the Technology; but match officials not having the Technology properly explained &/or not understanding the protocol. In theory, nothing changes with VAR in relation to how the ref makes decisions in real time. The only change is that in relation to four specific incidents (goals, red cards, penalyt/no penalty & mistaken identity), AFTER the ref makes a decision (or doesn't make a decision) the VAR will bring something to the ref's attention if the VAR thinks a CLEAR ERROR has been made. My definition of "clear error" would be - I look at 1 replay and I see an error. Not I look at replays for 5 minutes, or analyse each frame, in slow motion. I should simply, look at 1 replay (from multiple angles) in real time motion and I say to the ref "hey, you've made a clear error, you might want to check it out". The problem with VAR in the early stages in ALeague were due to the VAR re-refereeing the game. This is not the role of VAR. If people want to be fully informed on the Protocols for VAR use, here is the best handbook. https://www.knvb.nl/downloads/bestand/9844/var-handbook-v8_final
Kangajets
Guest
I can live with on field mistakes Match review can suspend later
Buddy
Guest
Without a tv camera the referee does not make mistakes. The referee sees the game from a different angle and adjudicates according to what he/she sees. However, the arrival at the ground of cameras and so called experts that feel compelled to analyse and watch multiple replays to reach an alternative conclusion has led us to VAR. I always tell young referees that every decision they make is incorrect, so don’t worry about it. All I am alluding to is that whatever decision you make, in team sport one side will show dissent or at least disagree with the decison and tell you it is wtong. I have always figured that the team has 90 minutes to set things right. If they really are the better side, they will succeed. Instead we spend our lives complaining about the referee irrespective of how good or nad they are. Yet take away the person in the middle, or if the governing body doesn’t appoint someone as there aren’t enough to provide 100% coverage, it is the end of the world as we know it. I abhor VAR simply due to it creating breks in the gme putting it on par with other codes. However, VAR only exists to try and placate the fans....or is it the army of bookmakers that have somehow become an inextricable part of the game?
Wayne
Roar Guru
How many mistakes does a player make in a game? A Striker putting it 10 rows back, or a defender setting an offside trap that wouldn't look out of place in an Under 10s game? Yet the Ref makes a call live, based on what they see at that instant moment, and they get crucified. So they bring in technology, that grabs a handful of straws and picks a result. So everyone complains and the refs get crucified... They can't win.
Kangajets
Guest
The headline nailed it And now because of var the refs are second guessing themselves. Oh well I told you this would happen Ffa , but what would I and thousands of others know .