When the APL-controlled cameras capture Danny Townsend whispering furtively into Graham Arnold’s ear for the four-hundredth time next week, do you think they’ll be talking about VAR?
Townsend has been known to pick up the phone and complain about a lack of positive media coverage, but what he should be doing is calling Football Australia and asking what’s going on with the refereeing.
Either that or giving Warren Moon and Carl Veart a personal call to offer his condolences on another weekend in which officiating – not the football – made all the difference.
Brisbane Roar were robbed of two points on Saturday when they were the better side against Western Sydney Wanderers, only for a couple of decisive decisions to go against them in what ended up a 1-1 draw.
The second one – when Jay O’Shea’s deflected free-kick was ruled out by another pathetic FIFA rule which ensured Connor Chapman, who had no bearing on the goal whatsoever, was standing too close to the wall – was adjudged correctly by the letter of the law.
But the first one – when Scott Neville’s point-blank rebound was chalked off after a Joe Knowles volley had smacked the crossbar – speaks volumes for the Australian psyche.
The biggest myth about Australians is that we’re a carefree, fun-loving people.
What we really are is obsessed with rules – and policing those rules – and you’ll find no better example than an A-Leagues which remains grimly determined to snuff out the potential for enjoyment at every available opportunity.
If it takes nearly four minutes for VAR to rule out Neville’s goal, because it turns out his shoulder or kneecap or whatever looks fractionally in front of the last defender on a TV replay which isn’t even remotely in line with the action, then let the goal stand.
Instead, what the APL seems to do week in and week out, is forget the very reason for their existence and allow decision after decision that robs supporters of the joy of seeing goals.
And you need to read this, Danny, because quite frankly every single one of us is sick to death of VAR robbing us of the entire reason we watch football in the first place.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, how good was the VAR decision to send off Adelaide United striker Hiroshi Ibusuki in the 2-2 draw with Sydney FC yesterday?
Referee Kurt Ams signals for the VAR (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
The Japanese striker won the ball in a challenge with Sydney FC midfielder Anthony Caceres, then saw referee Daniel Elder make a clear and obvious error in deciding to brandish the red card, only for video referee Kurt Ams to uphold the decision within a matter of seconds.
Perhaps Ams was feeling the pressure on the back of the preceding day’s lengthy VAR adjudications, but either way it was the umpteenth use of video technology to make yet another incorrect decision.
Why do we persist this? We don’t even need to curry favour with FIFA given that we’re already co-hosting next year’s Women’s World Cup.
The Reds deserve huge credit for fighting back with a man down to secure a 2-2 draw with the Sky Blues in what was a frenetic clash at Allianz Stadium.
At least I’m not the only one frustrated by the officiating.
“The penalty and the red card… the red card for me is no red card, there was a foul before and the referee can be better,” opined the A-League Men’s marquee man Nani after Melbourne Victory’s 2-0 loss to Melbourne City in front of more than 23,000 fans at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
“This is a derby, the stadium is full, it kills the game, it kills the spectacle,” the former Manchester United winger claimed – admittedly after he gave away a game-changing penalty in the 15th minute.
“We want the full stadium and we want people to come see the games,” he added.
Do you hear that, Australian Professional Leagues?
Fans pay good money to attend games to watch the football – not the referees.
If the penny ever drops with the powers that be, we just might have a halfway decent football league.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Just gentle teasing AA. I love the passion that fills your posts.
BennoFootball
Roar Rookie
Don’t you mean BIDEN!!! Oh that’s right …. Suppress the Bits that he’s using The FBI, like The Communist USSR used The KGB …. But I digress …. FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
BennoFootball
Roar Rookie
THREE (3) Championship’s …. TWO (2) Premiers Plates and some of The Leagues highest attendances Without the Aid of Local Derby’s, to boot …. The only thing small about The BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB is the management …. But thankfully that seems to be slowly Improving at this stage …. Still a Fair Bit to Go!!! FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
BennoFootball
Roar Rookie
NO IT’s TRUE!!! FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
BennoFootball
Roar Rookie
Get RID of ‘ Passive ‘ and reinsert “ interfering “ as Was The Original Football Rule at The beginning Of Football History nearly 200 years ago. And you MUST be behind the second last defender ( which includes the Goalkeeper ) when the football is played Forward. Insist on “ Goal Line “ Technology …. ONLY or Until Video can be Computerised to allow impact and Force!!! FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
BennoFootball
Roar Rookie
Next Season …. Don’t change Rules or Regulations in the Current Season …. Like when VAR was introduced with more than Six (6) Rounds to go before the Finals more than four (4) years ago …. Because you can bet your sweet bippy that it WILL go against BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB …. AGAIN!!! The ONLY Technology we should be using is “ Goal Line “ Technology!!! Ha, ha!!! The VAR is Now Responsible for disallowing MORE Goals than what would ever have been disallowed BEFORE, in Football History …. “ Very Average Refereeing “ (VAR). FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
Saffi
Roar Rookie
Thank you Mike. Thank you. I’ve been arguing the same point for years. During the 20/21 pandemic we had no VAR for the tail end of the season. No issue except Referees seemed more eager to do their job. Please Mr Townsend, GET RID OF VAR.
Garry
Roar Rookie
the moneys mainly been spent so you wont save much from cancelling VAR
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I guess that's what I was saying.
Punter
Roar Rookie
What about the 2 handballs, one not given for West Ham's first goal & the one given for penalty for their 2nd????? So it's not just the A-League.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Just seen a studs up challenge this morning with both feet off the ground in the game between West Ham and Bournemouth. The ref gave it a yellow. The commentators were perplexed. The game went on. Moral of the story. I don’t know. Happy to throw my hands up in the air.
Beach
Roar Rookie
Personally I detest VAR and believe it is a blight on the game BUT it is here to stay and the reason is gambling. The most effective way to to fix a game is is through the referee. Remember that German referee who was convicted of matching fixing? That’s the genesis of VAR right there. The amount of money tied to gambling on football is immense. Like it or not VAR is part of the game as a result. Just look at the amount of promotion for gambling on sport in Australia. It’s more of a blight on our game than VAR.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
It's a good question and after the GF two years ago, it would not have been the same reaction it would have been far bigger.
Punter
Roar Rookie
VAR is not wrong!!!! What is wrong is how VAR is used. VAR should only be used for what 'clearly incorrect' eg see Nani penalty against Leckie, very clear penalty. VAR gave the penalty & rightly so. If one causes debate, ref's call. If we are viewing it for more than 2-3 views than not 'clearly incorrect', leave as refs call & allow us to discuss the rights or wrongs of the decision in the pub. If a decision made that even NoMates cannot defend a positive SFC call, than incorrect call.
Coastyboi
Guest
Adelaide had it coming. Remember when they scored THREE penalties against Staj’s Mariners? Never forget.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Criticize the rules all you like, but having a go at the people whose job it is to enforce those rules is small-minded.
Megeng
Roar Rookie
I blame tennis. They started it decades ago with their service line technology. You can join the dots from then, through cricket, the other football codes, to VAR and misery for the fans. Justice was never supposed to be precise, just accurate when averaged over all the punters. That’s how the courts operate, and if it’s good enough for then it’s good enough for football.
Garry
Roar Rookie
The Iranian is the best ALM ref.
Garry
Roar Rookie
"no conspiracy what so ever, if you go across 17 seasons in australia the 2 clubs who have had the most ‘contentious decisions’ by a long long way are sydney and victory, followed by city and wanderers." you claim to always provide evidence..proof please?
NoMates
Roar Rookie
VAR is only there for SFC!.