Get rid of VAR NOW! We want our game back! (...or not, some are happy)

[Orwellians]

Relax. VAR called a player being offside because he was factually offside, and they retook the penalty because of some annoying shite that they're trying to stamp out and this is the only way to do it, players will learn how to stay on the line until it's actually taken as they were bending the rules because they knew they wouldn't be punished before. Now they will, every time.

I love VAR but want changes. If a penalty is missed, why re-take it? The goalie was off his line? Yellow card. A player encroached? Yellow card. Neither action has impacted on the weak shot from the spot.

Fans at the match, and neutrals watching on tv, all clearly enjoyed watching Aguero's miserable effort - especially because he ignored Sterling, on a hat-trick. The 'schadenfreud' of the missed spot-kick was ruined by VAR. (which ruled the penalty must be taken again.) This decision 'feels' wrong. It isn't 'in the spirit of the game'. It could also prove an easy way to manipulate the final score results.

Video assistance ought to increase the drama, enhance the spectacle, and provide the betting industry with concrete results. This currently is NOT what VAR delivers.

 

[RochaRoja]

I can't believe the nation that was cheated by the Hand of God wouldn't be 100% pro VAR

If only there were some kind of happy medium between technology being used to rule out goals deliberately scored with the hand and technology being used to rule out goals because one player’s armpit hair was 0.5mm ahead of another’s.

 

[RochaRoja]

Football is still unpredictable even with VAR.

I mean Sterling's last minute goal being ruled out for offside in the CL was as stunning and high drama a moment as any in the

Yeah, Solskjær’s winner at the Camp Nou was amazing and all, but wouldn’t it have been even more dramatic and awesome if a minute later the ref had been like “lol actually...”

 

[Irrational.]

MAKE FOOTBALL GREAT AGAIN

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Use it for quick and obvious errors for God's sake and it's a superb system.

Do not use it to try and see if Raheem Sterling is an inch on or offside, same goes for Jesse Lingard v Netherlands etc. If a player doesn't instantly look clearly offside, let it be.

And don't be using it for encroachment and such nonsense. It's overuse that will be the downfall for something that is otherwise superb.

 

[RochaRoja]

Say it louder for the moaners in the back. American sports have had replays for years. Free flowing games like basketball have not had the “beauty” sucked out of it due to officials reviewing a call/play. This gatekeeping mentality is so tiresome and screams of “Well back in my day footballers smoked cigarettes, drank on the pitch, and played with leather balls filled with the bones of the animal whose skin was used for the ball. Real men who wore tiny shorts and had beautiful long flowing hair”. It is the future and VAR will become streamlined and more reliable. And were also in the first bloody week!

Counterpoint: all American sports are unwatchable garbage.

 

[RochaRoja]

Use it for quick and obvious errors for God's sake and it's a superb system.

Do not use it to try and see if Raheem Sterling is an inch on or offside, same goes for Jesse Lingard v Netherlands etc. If he doesn't look instantly, clearly off, let it be.

Yep. There are plenty of people against VAR who are just luddites but there are plenty of us who just want a common sense approach that will overrule any serious errors by referees but not infringe on the beauty and spontaneity of the game.

 

[PieCrust]

It's not VAR's fault that the offside rule is a joke. Do you expect them not to make the correct call? It's the rule itself that is the problem. Should be clear daylight between the defender and attacker. It's beyond stupid that if any part of the body is behind the defender than it's "offside". Between this and "tactical" fouls, ruins a large part of the game for me and can be a lazy way out for defenders.

 

[RochaRoja]

It's not VAR's fault that the offside rule is a joke. Do you expect them not to make the correct call?

It’s not VAR’s fault per se but whoever was in charge of implementing it into football could easily have stipulated that offsides had to be clear and obvious for the decision be overturned. They didn’t have to go down the route of picking through everything with a toothcomb.

 

[Uniquim]

I like VAR, but I don't like them using it for penalties. The GK pretty much always leaves the line. For West Ham v City, the GK left the line both for the first penalty kick, and for the re-take. Penalties are already high-percentage chances, and there's no need for them to be retaken until the attacking side scores, or to further half the GK from making a save.

That being said, I love VAR for checking that goals are actually goals, although it'd be nice if they minimized the time spent on each decision. Remember when Drogba scored an offside goal in 2009-10 to let Chelsea win 2-1 v United, then go on to win the league title by one point over United? We would've had another title with VAR in effect back then.

 

[sullydnl]

I like VAR, but I don't like them using it for penalties. The GK pretty much always leaves the line. For West Ham v City, the GK left the line both for the first penalty kick, and for the re-take. Penalties are already high-percentage chances, and there's no need for them to be retaken until the attacking side scores, or to further half the GK from making a save.

That being said, I love VAR for checking that goals are actually goals, although it'd be nice if they minimized the time spent on each decision. Remember when Drogba scored an offside goal in 2009-10 to let Chelsea win 2-1 v United, then go on to win the league title by one point over United? We would've had another title with VAR in effect back then.

VAR isn't being used to check whether the GK leaves his line or not.

 

[Sandikan]

He wasn't offside wtf?!

Var reckoned so.

 

[Uniquim]

VAR isn't being used to check whether the GK leaves his line or not.

Oh you're right, I rewatched it now. They re-took it because West Ham players encroached the penalty area. Fair enough, I guess. Still don't like penalties being retaken unless absolutely necessary. I guess it made sense in this case.

 

[Sigma]

I mean what would fix the controversy is a challenge system where there are no VAR checks unless you challenge it. You get two a game and if you are right, you get to keep it. This could be an interesting compromise between those who like the current implementation of VAR and those who don't. One issue could be how the team makes the referee aware they want to challenge, but this could be tested and solutions understood.

 

[sullydnl]

Oh you're right, I rewatched it now. They re-took it because West Ham players encroached the penalty area. Fair enough, I guess. Still don't like penalties being retaken unless absolutely necessary. I guess it made sense in this case.

One imagines players will quickly stop encroaching anyway once they know they'll be called on it by VAR, so it shouldn't be a big issue. It's not a difficult thing to avoid once you know you have to.

 

[Uniquim]

One imagines players will quickly stop encroaching anyway once they know they'll be called on it by VAR, so it shouldn't be a big issue. It's not a difficult thing to avoid once you know you have to.

Yeah. I agree there. I thought it was called for the GK leaving the line, which is what my commentator said. Seems Rice, one of the players who encroached, also cleared the ball after the save, so he gained an advantage.

Thank you for pointing out my mistake. I'm even more positive about VAR now. Was thinking there'd be a lot of penalties retakes. Glad that won't be the case.

 

[Camilo]

Yes.. winning without having to cheat.

Nothing to do with cheating. Absolutely unrelated.

 

[A-man]

It’s not VAR’s fault per se but whoever was in charge of implementing it into football could easily have stipulated that offsides had to be clear and obvious for the decision be overturned. They didn’t have to go down the route of picking through everything with a toothcomb.

Many of the one inch offside goals that have been disallowed because of VAR, would never been allowed before VAR anyway. When in doubt, the refs always called offside, often long before the shot was taken. Now they leave those situations to VAR.

 

[kouroux]

Yeah. I agree there. I thought it was called for the GK leaving the line, which is what my commentator said. Seems Rice, one of the players who encroached, also cleared the ball after the save, so he gained an advantage.

Thank you for pointing out my mistake. I'm even more positive about VAR now. Was thinking there'd be a lot of penalties retakes. Glad that won't be the case.

You never know with some of the stupid players in the PL.

 

[do.ob]

It’s not VAR’s fault per se but whoever was in charge of implementing it into football could easily have stipulated that offsides had to be clear and obvious for the decision be overturned. They didn’t have to go down the route of picking through everything with a toothcomb.

Do you honestly believe there would be any kind of consensus on what is a clear and obvious offside in that sense?

 

[Zydar]

I really like VAR. Anything that eliminates wrong decisions and bad refs gets my support.

 

[Grande]

All these replies make me laugh. Doesnt matter if you agree or not, offside is a matter of fact decision. You are offside or you are onside. 1mm 1cm or a metre. Its offside, an the right decision was made.

Its applied fairly to every team and every game dont see how people are crying about this.

It’s funny you should write this now, as 99 out of 100 times you’d be right. But viewing on a camera and deciding where the line goes on the shoulder between what should be deemed hands and what you’d be allowed to score with, when it’s hidden under a shirt, is enough of an unclear decision that when you add the fact that it is still impossible to say with complete accuracy when the ball has actually physically left the foot, and the margin of error of pinpointing any defenders body part on a two dimensional picture, and the margin of error of the video equipment, and the fact that it was still difficult to see if there was a difference, then it can no longer be clear and obvious.

 

[Patchbeard]

Do you honestly believe there would be any kind of consensus on what is a clear and obvious offside in that sense?

Yeah the whole "clear and obvious error" thing is nonsense because it's subjective, I'm not sure if it's actually implemented in any regards but pundits and commentators keep banging on about it. Wish no one had ever coined that phrase

Personally would prefer if the offside rule was updated to aid the attacker, but in order to stop disallowing goals that are practically level the rule would need updating to something new and definitive, not just say "oh it needs to be clear and obvious".

 

[Bobski]

I was happy they didn't go the route of incredibly soft penalties for hand ball like we saw in the WWC. Hope that continues, because if not you will just have players aiming for arms, forcing defenders to keep their hands behind backs at all times, giving even more advantages to attackers. If scoring is too easy the games loses that dramatic tension that makes the key moments so impactful, we shouldn't harm that balance.

Bringing up how video tech works in other sports doesn't really help, of all the major sports football is the most free flowing. Tennis/Cricket have natural breaks between points. Basketball has a shot clock(and people should really look at how frustrated the fans get when the last 2 mins of a NBA game can take up to 30 mins real time because of constant use of it) Rugby has scrums/lineouts 6 tackles possession turnover.

 

[The Taurean]

VAR is good for the sport. Implementation is another thing. Wonder how much better it would be if the call for VAR rests with the team|s captain. Something similar to Cricket.

1. 2 calls per game for each side. (max 1 for each half). Correct call retains the call.
2. Applicable only for offside calls/penalty calls by refs in run in for goals, and red cards.
3. Penalty kicks to be auto monitored for VAR.

Will not allow for all calls but perhaps cricitcal ones but might not necessitate stop for each goal and spoil fun for fans/players celebrating or watching.

 

[cyberman]

Many of the one inch offside goals that have been disallowed because of VAR, would never been allowed before VAR anyway. When in doubt, the refs always called offside, often long before the shot was taken. Now they leave those situations to VAR.

Spot on. Many of these offside calls are only goals because the linesman is told to keep his flag down anyway.

 

[VP89]

Var reckoned so.

Are you referring to his goal that was allowed?

 

[Random Task]

One imagines players will quickly stop encroaching anyway once they know they'll be called on it by VAR, so it shouldn't be a big issue. It's not a difficult thing to avoid once you know you have to.

Yeah, that's another good thing about VAR, it will act as a deterrent. Like those staff members that hang around self-checkout tills pretending to offer assistance, when we all know they're only there to 'dissuade' you from walking out of the store without paying for your shit.

 

[Syphon Wallet]

I think VAR in itself is a good thing, but I think the anticlimax of VAR checking on a goal just scored, is a real problem for the atmosphere at games, especially for match goers.

They need to stop checking every goal, the crowd will stop celebrating a goal until VAR says so, and the celebrations will never be the same.

They need to leave goals alone unless the ref/linesman says "I'm not sure about that, may have been a foul/offside, check it please"
There will still be things that happen that the ref/linesman don't see, but that's football.

 

[Robbo's Shoulder]

While it's a good thing that correct decisions are being made I hate the fact that the 1st thing I do now instead of cheering a goal is look to the big screen.
Saying that, the West Ham cheers when the goal was disallowed yesterday were probably as loud as if they had scored themselves.
Personally hate it but it's here and it's here to stay.

 

[montpelier]

It's not VAR's fault that the offside rule is a joke. Do you expect them not to make the correct call? It's the rule itself that is the problem. Should be clear daylight between the defender and attacker. It's beyond stupid that if any part of the body is behind the defender than it's "offside". Between this and "tactical" fouls, ruins a large part of the game for me and can be a lazy way out for defenders.

This daylight thing is a good idea in theory but...

First requirement is for the bloke with the flag to be able to tell. He has a better chance of looking across a line of people & seeing a bit of the wrong shirt emerging to the right than he does waiting for & judging when the 'daylight' is sufficient to justify a raise of the flag, surely?

 

[montpelier]

I think the EPL have gone for mainly line calls & nonsense like encroachment to break us in gently. They will be backing the refs in the main who will be making fewer & fewer decisions. Everything favours the stronger attacking team, defenders can do naff all. Welcome to non contact, barely competitive football for a lot of the time. We're pretending that all the decisions are right now.

 

[RochaRoja]

Do you honestly believe there would be any kind of consensus on what is a clear and obvious offside in that sense?

Whether it could be conclusively shown that the player was offside without freezeframing or drawing daft lines on a screen seems fair. You’re never going to get a consensus on anything in football so let’s just go with common sense.

 

[montpelier]

Whether it could be conclusively shown that the player was offside without freezeframing or drawing daft lines on a screen seems fair. You’re never going to get a consensus on anything in football so let’s just go with common sense.

But offside is about the one thing they can guarantee to be right. Wait until the comedy penalties of Cheaty Mo are allowed to stand or he gets a load more of them, .

 

[Fully Fledged]

Players will quickly learn what they can’t get away with anymore and adjust, which will soon mean far less VAR interventions.

Eg: I doubt many more players will enter penalty box before penalty kick is taken after todays mistake by West Ham.

I think it will carry on being abit annoying for a month or so, until all the pre VAR cheats are identified and punished, and that will lead to a ‘reset’. Which will be great for the game as it will dramatically reduce cheating and improve fairness.

Rice did on the retaken pen. You are giving footballers too much credit.

 

[Fully Fledged]

I love VAR but want changes. If a penalty is missed, why re-take it? The goalie was off his line? Yellow card. A player encroached? Yellow card. Neither action has impacted on the weak shot from the spot.

Fans at the match, and neutrals watching on tv, all clearly enjoyed watching Aguero's miserable effort - especially because he ignored Sterling, on a hat-trick. The 'schadenfreud' of the missed spot-kick was ruined by VAR. (which ruled the penalty must be taken again.) This decision 'feels' wrong. It isn't 'in the spirit of the game'. It could also prove an easy way to manipulate the final score results.

Video assistance ought to increase the drama, enhance the spectacle, and provide the betting industry with concrete results. This currently is NOT what VAR delivers.

Rice cleared the ball from the rebound. He denied another goal scoring opportunity.

 

[njred]

Say it louder for the moaners in the back. American sports have had replays for years. Free flowing games like basketball have not had the “beauty” sucked out of it due to officials reviewing a call/play. This gatekeeping mentality is so tiresome and screams of “Well back in my day footballers smoked cigarettes, drank on the pitch, and played with leather balls filled with the bones of the animal whose skin was used for the ball. Real men who wore tiny shorts and had beautiful long flowing hair”. It is the future and VAR will become streamlined and more reliable. And were also in the first bloody week!

Instant replay is the reason I don’t watch American sports anymore. It did ruin the games when it became too much. After every big play in the NFL players and fans have to hold their breath. That’s what is happening in the PL after every goal and it’s week one. Do you really need to see if a player is offside by an inch?
The need to back off a bit and make it just blatant missed calls. Pretty sad the VAR is going to be the conversations going forward rather than the game. Getting “ used to it” is not the answer. It needs to be scaled back. The problem is the genie is out of the bottle. It’s only take over games more and more. And it’s also going to evolve to include even more trivial calls that will ruin the flow of the game.

 

[Raees]

Yes! But in tennis, the only thing technology enforces is wheter the ball is in or out. Like goal line technology in football.

Offside is a similar concept. Technically you're either offside or your not albeit slightly harder to determine.. though VAR must be confident it can decide even the most marginal ones now.

 

[Fully Fledged]

Just watching GoS how was that hand ball in the Watford match not a pen?

 

[ForestRGoinUp]

Instant replay is the reason I don’t watch American sports anymore. It did ruin the games when it became too much. After every big play in the NFL players and fans have to hold their breath. That’s what is happening in the PL after every goal and it’s week one. Do you really need to see if a player is offside by an inch?
The need to back off a bit and make it just blatant missed calls. Pretty sad the VAR is going to be the conversations going forward rather than the game. Getting “ used to it” is not the answer. It needs to be scaled back. The problem is the genie is out of the bottle. It’s only take over games more and more. And it’s also going to evolve to include even more trivial calls that will ruin the flow of the game.

It will evolve to include even more for sure. And that’s not even the part that bothers me most. It’s going to dictate changes to the rules of the game.

American football now, is not played under the same rules it was played even last year. And it’s undergone rule changes seemingly every other offseason. To the point where the tone fans and pundits is literally, “I don’t know what is or is not a catch.”

In basketball now, the close of games often becomes tedious, and everyone is trying to figure out what the shooter’s “safe landing space” is.

The sport of football will change because VAR dictates that it do so, not because fans or coaches or players want it. Rules will likely change 3 times in the next decade, meaning none of us (myself included) have a clue what it will look like.

Evolving the rules of a game built for entertainment is fine. Doing so at the behest of a constantly changing and imperfect technology is **** like and weak minded.

The pitch is a stage made for live performers who are the very best in the world at what they do (refs included). We’ve effectively just decided we’d rather buy tickets to a rehearsal where the director can shout CUT! and halt the flow in order to achieve perfection as he sees it, rather than letting his audience interpret on their own.

I legitimately do not care what criticism comes my way on this front. I know that the ones all for it will be the ones that flip flop on all the rules changes to follow.