It was football, just not as we knew it, as VAR somehow came to Central Coast Mariners’ rescue in a truly bonkers finish to their 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory in Gosford last night.
Let’s rip the lid off this thing and get stuck in: was yesterday’s incredible finish at Central Coast Stadium entertaining because of Video Assistant Refereeing, or in spite of it?
Let’s put it another way. Would Kye Rowles’ disallowed goal have stood in the pre-VAR era?
Would substitute Matt Simon’s first penalty shout – when he put his body across James Donachie’s and then tumbled under the weight of the Victory defender’s challenge – have been awarded if there was no VAR?
Having had one penalty shout ignored by the VAR, were the Mariners subsequently not the beneficiaries when referee Kurt Ams awarded a free-kick for what he thought was a foul by Simon, only for the video assistant to overturn the decision after revealing it was actually Donachie who handled the ball?
The Mariners’ Milan Duric celebrates. (AAP Image/David Gray)
And then, when the game looked destined to finish 2-2 deep into stoppage time, was the VAR right not to intervene once Ams pointed to the spot after Leigh Broxham shouldered substitute Michael McGlinchey off the ball?
Ams looked somewhat sheepish when awarding the penalty, almost pointing to the spot with a shrug of the shoulders as if to suggest the video replay would sort the situation out.
On replay it looked a soft decision, but you’ve seen those sorts of penalties awarded in the past – although usually before the advent of video replays.
So the question remains: did VAR add to the spectacle in Gosford, or detract from it?
Just about everyone in the game, from fans to players and coaches, wants to get rid of the VAR.
But how realistic is that wish? Especially when in the pre-VAR days, some of those fans and players and coaches were the first to complain the second a referee made a mistake?
Much as I’d prefer not to zero in on the officiating, it’s hard to deny that controversy seems to follow Ams around.
But there are some – including Fox Sports commentator Brenton Speed, although he didn’t call the game in Gosford – who think Ams got everything right on the night.
Victory officials, however, are unlikely to be too thrilled with any of the refereeing.
You wouldn’t have known that from Marco Kurz’s post-match comments to Fox Sports’ sideline reporter Adam Peacock though.
Asked twice by Peacock to give his thoughts on the controversial VAR decisions, Kurz decided discretion was the better part of valour and chose to say nothing.
Peacock was entitled to ask the questions, but had Kurz unloaded in similar fashion to the way his German compatriot and Western Sydney Wanderers coach Markus Babbel did late last year, would Fox Sports have paid the fine?
After all, it felt like the broadcaster benefited as much as anyone from all the drama VAR created.
Kurz was sent off at full-time after remonstrating with the fourth official but both he and assistant Filip Tapalovic showed some degree of restraint, with Tapalovic quick to usher the players from the field after the final whistle, before Kurz was more than measured in his post-match comments.
If nothing else, the win was good news for long-suffering Mariners fans, who have now seen their team move to within two points of sixth-placed Victory.
And the result provided a vindication of sorts for controversy-magnet Simon, who almost instigated a brawl before rattling home both spot-kicks and irritating an army of social media critics in the process.
However, most of the online vitriol was reserved for the VAR decision-making process.
Plenty of fans would argue that all the VAR decisions ended up being correct, but plenty more might suggest the technology shouldn’t have been in use in the first place.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
I have been too busy to read this until now, but what a great set of comments! The suggestions of a time limit on VAR decisions seems very sensible to me...as was suggested, if it takes 3 minutes to check the decision then there was not a "clear and obvious error". However, I do get the point about the VAR official needing time to find the most illuminating angle. Perhaps they need to channel David Bowie in "The Man Who Fell To Earth" - I seem to remember him with his eyelids pegged open watching a wall of TVs, taking in every channel at once.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Nobody has mentioned the canon smoke.
anon
Roar Pro
What's important is getting the correct decision.
Bondy
Guest
G day Mike & the boys. I was watching my blokes yesterday, I thought we fought hard for the win although a draw would've been the more appropriate outcome . I'll just mention also you must " examine the referee " and his behaviour especially when two controversial penalties are given late in any match , ? . I'm not suggesting the referee yesterday cheated or is corrupt but the referee rapidly decided the outcome of that match very late ... I think VAR is ruining football we have to heavily Americanised ourselves with this device ,let's face it video technology in sport evolved for Gridiron but that sports only for Americans. Video technology does not work in a dynamic, constantly fluent global sport like football ..
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Var is absolute shite
RbbAnonymous
Roar Rookie
The VAR is a curse full stop. It is a curse on this once beautiful game which VAR is in the process of ruining. Can anyone tell me honestly that they find football more appealing than what it was pre-VAR. This quest to find perfection is ruining our game. So before VAR it was said that the referees were getting about 94-95% of decisions correct. With the VAR it is said to be around 98%. So is the small percentage gain of getting the correct decisions worth it. NOOOOOOOOOOO it is not.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I gave you a tick Waz, but I'm a biased fan, one-eyed and will often blame the ref rather than admit we're at fault. It helps the pain sometimes, especially at present, although deep down I always know and acknowledge the ref is always right.
Punter
Roar Rookie
The saltiness is coming out now, poor jets!!!!
Fadida
Roar Rookie
VAR has already given MV a championship.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
If you can't see some teams are favoured the problem isn't mine
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Yes that is the rumour---has it been announced yet?
Punter
Roar Rookie
I follow these teams in world Football Sydney FC (since inception. I live in Sydney), Socceroos (long as I remember) Derby County (since the 1970s) & Ronaldo (Man U when he was there, no longer a Man U fan, Real Madrid when he was there, no longer a Real Madrid fan & Juventus (very difficult, as actually a AC Milan fan, can’t wait till he leaves, to stop following them.).
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
They are yet to announce the new name change---I think its going to be the Ampol Socceroos ???
Christopher
Guest
You'll need to change your name to Ampol Kayo ABC SBS support Australian Football
Steven Harris
Is Caltex still a sponsor ?
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
It’s not hate , it’s the narrative of sport since David v Goliath did battle
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Excellent point.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Choosing to support the richest big city clubs in every competition, like juventus Real Madrid Sydney fc sounds like glory hunting in my perspective .
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Yer that was plan wrong as Kruse was not involved in the play and did not interfere with any Mariner defender...
Waz
Roar Rookie
Agree. That was a hood use of VAR as the referee thought mariners had committed hand ball.