I am lucky enough to have a loyal group of readers within Australia, throughout parts of Asia and one that even extends into North America and Europe.
Much of my writing is disseminated through Facebook groups, Twitter and other social media platforms. As a writer, it is flattering to have engagement, both positive and negative, with people all around the globe.
Reflecting on the A-League grand final in preparation for this column, I realised it would be difficult to express to those people remotely connected to our league exactly what had happened. Surely the news of the fiasco involving the VAR in Australia’s biggest football match would not have extended across the globe?
It was impossible that the Melbourne Victory’s triumph in the most controversial of circumstances could have received anything near the attention of the ‘wondergoal’ from Riley McGree a week earlier.
Most likely, there will be people who never hear of the software glitch that took credibility and integrity away from the deciding match in Australia’s most significant football league.
Knowing that the news I would break might be, for some, the first they had heard of the event caused much consternation. Not being one to lambast the FFA needlessly or label the entire organisation as a joke; chock full of mindless fools, that was never going to be my line.
On the other hand, ignoring the realities of a sad day in Australian football would not be the path taken by any self-respecting journalist. The correct path to be trod would have to be somewhere in between and a measured, sensible and educative response would be the prudent move.
Put simply, the lesson and message that stems from the game is quite simple. You were warned football; had the chance to get your shop in order and by failing to do so, have hurt your brand.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
There might be some rather insular FIFA administrators and executives sharing coffees right now chuckling over how lucky they are that it happened in the footballing backwater of Australia.
We would be kidding ourselves if we ignored the reality that that attitude is indeed alive and well. One of my recent articles previewing the A-League grand final was met with a rather blunt and succinct response from a gentlemen via social media and it supports that claim.
I raised the question of the feverish passion in the upcoming grand final and who looked likely to raise the trophy, to which he replied “who cares? Tin pot f*#cking plastic league.”
I couldn’t quote him precisely as I needed to add punctuation and the scientific mystery as to how something is plastic and made of tin at the same time had me baffled, but I think you get the point.
Truth be told, the World Cup will begin in June without the adequate and grave concerns over the role of the VAR system and its application. The A-League grand final showed us clearly that perhaps it shouldn’t.
Apart from loyal Kosovo and Albanian fans, most of the world is oblivious to Besart Berisha, Roy O’Donovan isn’t a household name in Ireland (although that may change after his Bruce Lee impersonation) and Kosta Barbarouses will not be flocked with international offers after his stellar performance in the finals. And FIFA is lucky he won’t be. It should be very concerned.
The VAR system has tripped from one disaster to another across the globe with reversed, unclear and mind-boggling decisions that erode people’s faith in the game. To this point, the number of correct decisions has somewhat balanced out the nonsensical ones and placated much of the vitriol directed towards it.
The reason? The ramifications of the errors. With long domestic seasons, poor and incorrect VAR interventions are glossed over and not directly responsible for the trophy landing in one clubs cabinet as opposed to another.
That is the nature of league football, where throughout most of the world, errors in officiating probably do level out to some degree. So why was it magnified in Australia?
Bluntly, because we are different. Our psyche demands a climax, a pinnacle and a big dance around which to sell tickets, barbecue sausages and drink alcohol. Like it or lump it, it is the Australian way.
It isn’t particularly refined; quite crude at times, as indicated by the behaviour of a few buffoons at McDonald Jones Stadium last Saturday, yet the one scary potential outcome of this method of deciding the winner of the ‘whole kit and caboodle’ is exactly what transpired.
Newcastle were robbed of a chance to compete fairly for the title in extra-time or penalties and Melbourne Victory will forever be unfairly forced to respond to questions and criticism on the validity of their win.
(AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
With most leagues deciding their champions in the more traditional manner, thank goodness what happened in Australia will always be seen as an isolated incident in a weak league.
As I think on my feet it is lucky I can’t foresee an upcoming tournament where knock-out finals play a major role………uh oh!
Tell me no.
The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of the most popular game in the world. The round of sixteen, quarters, semis and ultimately the World Cup Final on July 15th will be decided in exactly the same manner as the A-League.
A shoot-out; one on one, with a stunning upset possible, based on ninety minutes of football. Unfortunately, there are also other factors at play.
The intervention of a flawed VAR; armed with software glitches, poor angles or just flat out incompetence might send world football into a spin.
Perhaps FIFA should be pro-active, act now and go a little old school before the world arrives in Russia to compete. At least limit things to goal-line decisions, arm human officials with confidence as a first line of defence and for goodness sakes, have a back-up.
Sadly, for the A-League grand final, there was no back-up. Just as there is no back up league to which people can turn.
It is the best league we have and it deserved to be treated a lot better than it was on Saturday night in Newcastle.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Like a Monty Python sketch. Why didn't the linesman standing right in line with play not raise his flag. Why couldn't the VAR officials look at the Foxtel replay. How could the VAR equipment operate fine all season long and then wait for a crucial 30 seconds in the Grand Final to fail. What's the probability of that happening. What's the chance of the VAR failing for the only goal of the grand final. There are a lot of unanswered questions and looking more and more suspicious by the day. No wonder politicians are calling for the FFA to be sacked and Melbourne Victory to give back the toilet seat. #givebackthetoiletseat
Redondo
Guest
You obviously didn’t read the following comments. I said the country is richer than ever, not that the wealth is distributed fairly. Regarding your insult - you use ‘greenie’ as a form of abuse but if you are genuinely concerned about the problems you list then you probably should support the Greens ahead of any other party.
LuckyEddie
Guest
There are people busting a boiler to get an Aussie Passport so you are 100% wrong.
LuckyEddie
Guest
It caused a lot of people to turn off the Grand Final and find something else to do - so there's some proof.
LuckyEddie
Guest
Yes the standard was pretty good but we are all discussing some useless piece of technology. Sepp Blatter said technology would rob the game of it.s passion and soul and he was 1000% right.
LuckyEddie
Guest
Put it on an APP and the crowd can have a vote on it. Only joking but you would not put that past FIFA. Dodgy Blatter said technology would kill football and he is 100%b correct. Football was going along very well until some clowns decided to introduce some dodgy technology.
LuckyEddie
Guest
Good, I mean why not take each decision to the High Court and we will get a result later in the year. We do not care what they are doing in other sports especially the Indian Bookie Game called cricket.
LuckyEddie
Guest
Wages are stagnant and have been for years, electricity costs through the roof, water costs high, price of house just plain ridiculous, etc. etc. etc. Wages low and prices for everything going up!!! Redondo if you think we are all getting richer you really are not paying attention or you are a wealthy inner city soy-boy greenie..
Cool N Cold
Guest
I forgot to say something. I still like Brisbane more. Still, last year I have found Melbourne so much different than when I visited it 20 years ago. I have been to around 15 countries in Europe, many Asian countries, and the 2 big countries in North America as a tourist. So, I think I am qualified as what you say "travel more". However, I have not been living there. That means stay there work there. Have you? Travelling and living are two different things. My standard are based on employ-ability, weather, safety, friendliness of the people, and prospect of the children. For a while, to the memory, Seattle had been the best city to live in the world, not any more. If USA people voted that Melbourne the best then there must be a reason. At least they did not vote USA cities. Yet, I am still finding the reasons that support Melbourne being the best city to live. Somehow, Australia is safer than USA because of the Firearms and Prohibited Weapons Act 1997 (NI). Weather? I like the weather in Brisbane. Employ-ability? Maybe, Sydney and Melbourne is stronger than Brisbane in this respect. Friendlieness of people? It is so much better than those in USA, I am afraid. Yes, you can earn a lot in Middle East, China and Japan. However, after 3 to 4 years, what would happen to the children? Will an European football player want to settle their children in Japan, China or Middle East as minorities? Yes, some do. But many of them are evangelist. At the moment, Spain's unemployment rate is still high at 17.2%, Italy and France at around 10%. Lucky for Broich, his country has a current employment rate of 3.6%. Maybe, that is the reason he is not coming back to Australia. Overall, many cities in Australia are good for some European football players and are very attractive to North American football players to live.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Well, err, it is lol. In order it goes: #1 A League #2 NPL1 #3 NPL2 #4 Capital Leagues/State Leagues Div 1 #5 Capital Div 1/State Leagues Div 2/Amateur WA #6 Capital Div 2/Regional Leagues Div 3 #7 Capital Div 3/Regional Leagues Div 4 #8 Capital Div 4/Regional Leagues Div 5 #9 Capital Div 5/ #10 Capital Div 6/ #11 Capital Div 7/ #11 Capital Div 8/ #12 Capital Div 19/ #13 Capital Div 10/ There’s a few twists and turns with state variations, then there’s the NYL and the youth pyramid under that, plus there’s the women’s league system. So yeah, the HAL is the most significant football league - it’s at the top of the pyramid ?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Seriously, anyone that’s travelled knows Melbourne is not the best city to live in the world, just like it’s not the sporting capital of the world. It’s nonsense. It’s probably the best city in the world to live ..... that’s closest to the South Pole
Cool N Cold
Guest
In 2016 Melbourne was the best city to live. According to the report by SBS, Melbourne ranked world's best city to live for 6th consecutive year, https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/en/article/2016/08/18/melbourne-ranked-worlds-best-city-live-6th-consecutive-year. Another report, CNN Travel rated Melbourne as the best city to live, https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/melbourne-most-livable-city/index.html
Cugel
Roar Rookie
" Australia’s most significant football league." Ha ha... Oh wait, you're serious, let me laugh even harder.
Redondo
Guest
And now a budget that takes us closer to a regressive flat tax income tax system. Now that is something to moan and complain about.
Waz
Roar Rookie
There are many worst places in the world but that wasn’t the point being made. America, Canada, several European countries, Cyprus, Malta, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Thailand, Malaysia, are all pretty good.
Worried
Guest
If you truely believe that then YOU need to travel more. There are many many worse places in the world to live.
Worried
Guest
A bit confused, are you writing about football or just trying to tell us how great you think you are ????
Redondo
Guest
Nevertheless Waz, a recurring feature with foreign players in the A-League is that they seem to love being here. They can't all be being polite.
Redondo
Guest
The FFA seems to be gearing up to work with the clubs to attract marquees - https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/08/australias-a-league-reportedly-andres-iniestas-preferred-destination. Your idea could be a key part of what they do to attract players.
Waz
Roar Rookie
A few people need to travel more - there’s plenty of great places to live and work in the world. Australia has little advantage in that regard.