Wow, what a week of A-League action. Again, we’re speaking about something that is a detriment to our game – the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
VAR spoiled last year’s grand final, last week it spoiled the Melbourne Derby and VAR has now completed the trifecta in spoiling the Sydney Derby.
Despite Markus Babels now infamous dummy spit and Mark Bosnich’s blow up, VAR mysteriously finds new ways to be controversial despite what media attention it gets. Both, Mark Bosnich and Archie Thompson agreed VAR should be suspended immediately. Even Brendan Hamill’s unwillingness to say anything in a post-match interview spoke a thousand words when he had a blow-up of his own in the sheds.
Even Robbie Slater’s magical switch, of questioning the referee’s decision live, to come out in support of the decision after the game left a lot of fans speechless.
Regardless of the club you support, it’s clear that the way VAR has been implemented is destroying our beloved game.
You may still support VAR technology; however, its usage needs to be amended and clear rules need to be outlaid in terms of its usage.
Roly Bonevacia’s disallowed goal was the talk of the round. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
I hate comparing codes but at least the NRL referees are the only ones allowed to call for the video referee. The video referee can’t interrupt the game and interfere, even when the ref does call for the video he must declare what he his looking for. For example, check the grounding or offside when examining a try.
It was clear after Saturday’s night’s blunder that the referee was examining an impediment made by Josh Sotirio, who supposedly ‘blocked’ Michael Zullo.
This was indicated by the on-pitch referee’s arm positioning when blowing for a foul. It was only until the post-match conference after the controversy reached boiling point, that an offside call became the offence being investigated by the VAR.
This whole dispute could have been avoided if the referee had to declare what he wanted the VAR to check, or visa-versa.
I’m not saying this happened last night or does happen, but, without a fair usage policy in place, how do we know VAR and on pitch officials did not get it wrong and simply change their minds?
A new fair usage policy for VAR would be as beneficial for the referees, as it would be for the fans’ enjoyment. This policy would give referees some protection when an incident like this happens again and fans and media would establish whether the on-pitch referees got it right or wrong.
Also, the consistency of VAR needs to come into question. Last year during a Perth vs Sydney semi final, an exact replica of last night’s controversy occurred. Bobo ‘blocked’ a Perth defender from an offside position.
VAR checked this goal and it was allowed. I must point out Robbie Slater agreed that this goal was OK in his post-match comments. Any neutral fan must address the white elephant in the room and ask what was the difference between the Jordy Buijs goal for Sydney FC and the Roly Bonevacias goal for the Wanderers on Saturday?
Don’t get me wrong, I think football does need some video assistance, but, I think goal-line technology is all. Yes, there are some very compelling arguments for the usage of a video referee, however, we need to get VAR’s usage policy right as its affecting attendance figures.
I hate to use a strawman argument here, but, it was only as far back as 8th of October in 2016, the Sydney derby was getting attendance figures of 61.880 people at Stadium Australia. Most recently the derby got 30,588 in a 46,000-capacity venue at the S.C.G. Before that it drew 14,436 at Penrith Stadium in an FFA Cup semi-final in a 22,500-capacity venue.
The number of people not attending games is chilling. As a fan of football, I believe the Sydney Derby should be a sell-out regardless of who’s in it, when and where it’s played.
It is my hope and dream that this new FFA board must examine VAR technology. The new board needs to suspend VAR immediately while developing a fair usage policy.
This policy should set boundaries on who can call for the VAR, how the VAR officiates and how the VAR interferes in games if at all.
Referee Kurt Ams signals for VAR (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
As a football fan, it astonishes me how football people are so desperate to get mainstream media acceptance in Australia, our code is willing to do anything to appease to outsiders’ opinions.
We’re willing to alter the administration and officiating of our code and even sell out our code’s culture. At what point do we say enough is enough and stop these experiments? I remember the good old days when human error was an integral element in football.
Fans benefited from the calls refs got wrong and fans got upset with the calls refs got right. However, at the end of the day, the amount of good vs bad calls levelled out.
Football, as opposed to other codes, is one of the most emotive games on the planet. The tension and emotional investment fans place in the game is phenomenal.
Human error from referees was a contributing factor to why emotion and atmosphere were present at games and is absent in the A-league.
When and how did officiating get so bad we felt the need to implement this technology in the first place?
Second, who was it that started asking for VAR? Was it our own administrators? Or was it outside influences?
I honestly forget. Picture this, imagine if they had the VAR for Maradona’s hand of god goal, could you imagine how that would have changed the face of modern football for the worst?
Yes, it was a handball and yes England was robbed of a final, however, it was a piece of history I wouldn’t want to change for the world.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
That tournament was one man vs the world , so good was Maradona ..
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
I have always said even on the radio program, What is the point of introducing VAR TECHNOLOGY, whose sole purpose was to decrease Human Error? If anything it's increased Human Error in the officiating of games. I much preferred the old system when Human Error contributed to the game itself as opposed to limiting it. I think commentators like Boz have every right to rant. I also respect people like Ned who can admit they have been wrong about VAR when given a circumstance such as Saturday night. However, I think people like Robbie Slater have more to answer for when they have publicly supported the Sydney FC goal against Perth which was more blatant, but, didn't support the goal on Saturday. In any case any commentator has a right to an opinion, pro or nay
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
True, however, the hand of god goal wasn't really the point of this article and was really a side note. it's amazing, what people choose to react on lol
Adam Owsinski
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your honesty and candour. It takes a lot of decency and courage to admit when your wrong and having the ability to change your mind shows how truly passionate you are of the game. I share most of your insight and thank you for those pearls of wisdom on the early development of VAR. I had no idea of who implemented or how it came to be. I understand you may have had some dealings with the early stages of development of the VAR technology and if you want to speak to our radio show or myself anonymously, please feel free to do so. I think an expose on how it came to be will be vital on why we're having so many issues now.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
How do you claim they are second best? It is one thing to say they didn't score enough goals, but when goal(s) are scored and then reviewed and taken away for 1 teams, are not reviewed despite a trip of the attacking player on the penalty box line. So I am sorry when 2 goals are denied by poor officiating then to claim a team is second best smacks of hypocrisy
chris
Guest
To say England was robbed of a final is going way too far. Maybe watch the game and see how dominant Argentina were, with or without the "Hand of God".
Redondo
Roar Rookie
I think Bozza might be working to orders - hunting ratings because the punters are abandoning Fox
reuster75
Roar Rookie
I believe the main driver for the VAR in the a-league was the overall poor quality of refereeing (which the VAR has done nothing to change). Your comment about Maradona and Henry is valid as data released earlier this year by the Professional Game Match Officials (the referees body in the UK) showed that approx 98% of decisions made were correct (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11096/10808860/referee-myth-busting-how-many-decisions-do-officials-get-right). Human nature is to remember the one time things go wrong rather than the 99 times things go right. As fans we're always going to complain about referees but the media need to do a better job and stop making judgments based on innumerable slow motion replays. The irony of Bosnich ranting against the VAR when he's been the chief protagonist for ranting against perceived referee errors isn't lost on people.
At work
Roar Rookie
I’m right here with you Kangas, you speak the truth.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
We always forget the other goal that Maradona scored in that game where he dribbled around 7 players before slotting past Shilton? He was amazing and I don’t personally believe that England would have ever won that game by fair means or foul! But I’m glad we didn’t have VAR cos that is the one footballing moment since Geoff Hurst did/didn’t score that gets my friends in the uk relly bubbling and up for a good argument!
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Waz, I wasn’t arguing truth or not. I am suggesting that VAR is firmly on the agenda, particularly as it was used in Russia this world cup. Imo only to see VAR disappear totally I am simply suggesting that if all the biggest leagues around the globe do not have any value for it, there is a greater chance that ultimately FIFA maynot sanction it to be used and therefore it disappears altogether. We do see innovation, change, then review and consideration given from time to time. Golden and silver goals come to mind. They are no longer in the rules as valid methods of settling a game although somehow FNSW believes it doesn’t apply here and so they are still used in various state run competitions...... probably why we are considered a footballing backwater!
coolncold
Roar Rookie
"Second, who was it that started asking for VAR? Was it our own administrators? Or was it outside influences? I honestly forget. Picture this, imagine if they had the VAR for Maradona’s hand of god goal, could you imagine how that would have changed the face of modern football for the worst? Yes, it was a handball and yes England was robbed of a final, however, it was a piece of history I wouldn’t want to change for the world," Adam Owsinski. I was one of the active online debaters in support of video refereeing (video replay) after Sepp Blatter was invited by FFA to watch how video refereeing in an NRL match in Australia more than a decade ago. Cannot remember exactly when. I thought I have all the questions good answered. However, it is not. Not sure about how big the voice outside Australia but that was the case. Blatter refused. So, when Gianni Infantino suddenly announced about trialing VAR, it was like someone suddenly being notified to have a child after some romances before. After seeing a very bad trial in A-league, I thought there is no VAR in the 2018 to 2019 season. However, that is not the case. Looking back, I have overlooked something. Statistically, how many Maradona's hand of god and Henry's handling of the ball in the match against Ireland? Is it worth economically to implement with huge money on video review/refereeing (now VAR). How many unseen by referees ball handling incidents each year comparing to the number of total goals scored each year locally or globally. This is especially true after the introduction of goal-line technology. I remember that my online response to goal-line technology and the UEFA's goal-line additional assistant referees (AAR) was "video replay or video refereeing can encompass them". I was wrong probably. In A-league, why there is not one single good VAR incident? Remind me if I have overlooked. We thought when viewed they would have better refereeing. However, that is not. Why they keep making mistakes despite seeing the video replay over and over again? Is it because that they do not have good enough knowledge or training? Will a "VAR fair usage policy" help? Are there policies in use now? Add a new policy? Or, amend the policies?
Waz
Roar Rookie
That’s not true. There is no requirement for any league in the world to implement it so what the major leagues do is irrelevant
Buddy
Roar Rookie
As much as we argue and moan about VAR, deep down we know it is here for “the long haul”. It is not likely to be abandoned unless all the major leagues around reject it and refuse to use it. Given that was used in the world cup and effectively too tells us that we need to “lift our game”. That aside, all we have done really is to change the story from how bad or good the referee was during a game to how bad or good VAR is. Someone change the record PLEASE! The Sydney derby was played over 90 minutes and during that time WSW had plenty of time to show that they are not the “easy beats” that the sky blue half of Sydney is claiming. Well they failed (again) and with all the ifs buts, could have and should have, it doesn’t change the fact they are second best in Sydney. As for attendances. I’d argue the novelty has worn off in Sydney especially given lopsided results. However, the FFA Cup attendnce is quite likely to have been the highest outside of finals? The crowd last night was pretty similar. After all it was still pre season and not everyone embraces the competition - including FFA. Why else do you consign the final to a Tuesday night?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Ask yourself why do we need VAR? What problem is it trying to fix? And now we’ve had it for 34 rounds of football are we better off? And then for those that saw the VAR-free FFA Cup Final last night. Ask yourselves this question - that was an outstanding game, would it have been better or worse if VAR had been in play? Critics (myself included) would say last nights game wouldn’t have been as good as players, coaches, fans and the overall match itself are adversely impacted by VAR - and the atmosphere would have been muted and dulled instead of getting caught up in wave after wave of positive feedback. And today, the morning after, all the headlines are about the high quality game, the goals and the magnificent atmosphere. That is despite numerous contentious incidents, possible off sides, maybe a red card here (but maybe not). Had VAR been in operation last night we wouldn’t have got the game we did and the headlines this morning would have been all about VAR. VAR is choking our game! Get rid completely I say.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
I didn’t ask for the var because I’ve seen how destructive video refs are in other sports It doesn’t add to the game , it detracts from the game, and the Var deniers don’t realise the damage done already to the integrity of the game . Yes the integrity of the A league is severely damaged by var . The grand final is a glaringly obvious example of the integrity of football being obliterated Get rid of it . It would be a complete shock to them if they took they’re head out of their own bubble and saw the bigger picture. To paraphrase this quote from Jim Butcher Stupid is just as destructive as Evil, maybe more so, and it's a hell of a lot more common. What we really need is a crusade against Stupid. That might actually make a difference.