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The VAR Thread

'O Zio

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Dec 27, 2014
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It ruins it for people in the stadium because we aren’t informed about what’s happening. Why should people watching it on tv have more information that those sitting in the ground. It needs to be shown on the big screen.

The problem isn't VAR, the problem is the stupid way it's been implemented. They need to have replays in the stadium so that fans know what the fuck is going on and they need to establish more consistency about when it's used. THe technology/idea behind it isn't the issue. By and large, once they get it right it will be a good thing for the game.
 

Dharmabum

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Aug 16, 2003
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I think VAR should only be used when the referee needs advise on a situation and not suddenly being interrupted by the VAR-room that he got a situation that he 'might wanna check out'. I.e. Manchester City's penalty decision against us. None of the City players was reacting and neither did the ref.

VAR is there to assist and help the referee in order for him (or her) to take most fair/correct decision for both teams playing, and there are certain situations where the referee/linesman simply can't see what was going on.
But the bottom line is that VAR is there primary for the teams playing so that they get the "fairest" decision making during the game. Same for the ref, s/he's there to make the fairest decisions for the teams as well - so if that results in "interruptions" from VAR then let them continue to "interrupt". In the end it is having the most correct decision that matter and not whether the ref feels "interrupted" - and what not - in the process.
I am pretty sure a referee prefer to be "interrupted" and corrected rather than have a (hugely) wrong decision from his side deciding a game.
Spurs may not have been in the CL semi-final if VAR had not "interrupted" the ref, as the off-side decision most probably wasn't spotted by neither the ref nor the linesman (and I wouldn't have blamed either of them for not doing so as it was such a close call) nor did any Spurs player protest.
 
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Dharmabum

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2003
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No substitutions during time added on unless to replace an injured player. Really annoys me to see people slowly walk off and be replaced during this period.

With effective playing time any time-wasting of any kind will be, well, a waste of time... as the time-keeper simply stops the game-watch until the concerned player's walked off the field.
 
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nailsy

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Jul 24, 2005
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The only time VAR can truly be objective is when it comes to offsides. You’re either off or your not. When it comes to everything else it’s up the the refs interpretation of the laws of the game.

Does it still have to be a clear and obvious error for an offside though? That's the sticking point on offsides with VAR for me. If a player is just offside and you have to look at it from multiple angles can it still be called an obvious error?

No substitutions during time added on unless to replace an injured player. Really annoys me to see people slowly walk off and be replaced during this period.

If you introduced that now it would just mean that we see substitutions a few minutes earlier.

I think VAR should only be used when the referee needs advise on a situation and not suddenly being interrupted by the VAR-room that he got a situation that he 'might wanna check out'. I.e. Manchester City's penalty decision against us. None of the City players was reacting and neither did the ref.

Totally disagree with this one. If the VAR guy thinks there's a match changing decision that the ref missed he has to call it out otherwise what's the point in having the system there if you just ignore the big decisions?
 

easley91

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Jan 27, 2011
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The idea of it is great. Exactly what is needed. As others have said it is the way it has been implemented. It's been around a while now and you can see the pros and cons. I was at the City game where there were checks for the penalty and Son's goal. Had no idea there was even a hint of handball as no City player had appealed (at least I don't remember if they did). Fans in the ground have no clue. Those at home or in pubs watching on TV get to see what the ref is seeing, but the crowd has no clue and thus the longer it takes the angrier and more frustrated everyone is.

At the end of the day it is still down to that particular ref's interpretation on the day or the guys in the VAR place.

It has and will help, but it needs some tinkering.
 

nailsy

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Jul 24, 2005
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The idea of it is great. Exactly what is needed. As others have said it is the way it has been implemented. It's been around a while now and you can see the pros and cons. I was at the City game where there were checks for the penalty and Son's goal. Had no idea there was even a hint of handball as no City player had appealed (at least I don't remember if they did). Fans in the ground have no clue. Those at home or in pubs watching on TV get to see what the ref is seeing, but the crowd has no clue and thus the longer it takes the angrier and more frustrated everyone is.

At the end of the day it is still down to that particular ref's interpretation on the day or the guys in the VAR place.

It has and will help, but it needs some tinkering.

All they need is a substitutes board that accepts letters as well as numbers and then the assistant ref can hold it up on the side of the pitch for everyone in the ground to see. VAR - HB = Handball. VAR - OFF = Offside, etc. Obviously it would be better if they could show the check on a screen, but not everywhere will have a screen available.
 

Sandros Shiny Head

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Aug 20, 2013
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Does it still have to be a clear and obvious error for an offside though? That's the sticking point on offsides with VAR for me. If a player is just offside and you have to look at it from multiple angles can it still be called an obvious error?
Offside falls outside of the clear and obvious bit in the same way that goal line technology does. It's either or and done without the ref's input. I think that's why we never saw any replays for the Sterling goal since it's just a case of them getting the lines sorted and telling the ref the ruling
 

CoopsieDeadpool

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Jun 8, 2012
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All they need is a substitutes board that accepts letters as well as numbers and then the assistant ref can hold it up on the side of the pitch for everyone in the ground to see. VAR - HB = Handball. VAR - OFF = Offside, etc. Obviously it would be better if they could show the check on a screen, but not everywhere will have a screen available.


Why do they need boards? Could they not simply get those abbreviations you suggested put onto the fuck off great screens we've got? Everyone can see them.

Again, if you're watching on TV at home, they put up a message on the screen saying what it's for. Surely that could be fed to the screens easily enough? Then the paying people at the stadium know what the hell is happening, which would also probably stop the atmosphere being sucked away, which is what happens when the poor sods don't know what's going on.
 

nailsy

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Jul 24, 2005
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Offside falls outside of the clear and obvious bit in the same way that goal line technology does. It's either or and done without the ref's input. I think that's why we never saw any replays for the Sterling goal since it's just a case of them getting the lines sorted and telling the ref the ruling

(y) Makes sense.

Why do they need boards? Could they not simply get those abbreviations you suggested put onto the fuck off great screens we've got? Everyone can see them.

Again, if you're watching on TV at home, they put up a message on the screen saying what it's for. Surely that could be fed to the screens easily enough? Then the paying people at the stadium know what the hell is happening, which would also probably stop the atmosphere being sucked away, which is what happens when the poor sods don't know what's going on.

We could do that, but not every ground has screens. Plus the ref and assistant ref are speaking directly to the VAR so they'd probably know what the review was for before the guys in charge of the stadium screens. The sooner the crowd knows what's going on the better.
 

Krule

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Jun 4, 2017
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(y) Makes sense.



We could do that, but not every ground has screens. Plus the ref and assistant ref are speaking directly to the VAR so they'd probably know what the review was for before the guys in charge of the stadium screens. The sooner the crowd knows what's going on the better.
The sooner the referees are wearing microphones as in rugby, the better it will be to understand every decision they make.
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
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The sooner the referees are wearing microphones as in rugby, the better it will be to understand every decision they make.

If I remember correctly, Sky tried this in an Arsenal game many years ago. It was just 90 minutes of players swearing.

No reason why the VAR decision can’t be announced/explained over the PA though.
 

Krule

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Jun 4, 2017
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If I remember correctly, Sky tried this in an Arsenal game many years ago. It was just 90 minutes of players swearing.

No reason why the VAR decision can’t be announced/explained over the PA though.

I'm sure it was like that at the beginning in rugby too...there has to be a learning curve. I'd love to hear the whistle blow and then have the ref explain to the players and crowd why....save so much frustration and confusion.
 

CoopsieDeadpool

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Jun 8, 2012
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(y) Makes sense.



We could do that, but not every ground has screens. Plus the ref and assistant ref are speaking directly to the VAR so they'd probably know what the review was for before the guys in charge of the stadium screens. The sooner the crowd knows what's going on the better.


Like I give a fuck about other grounds & other fans. As long as our own know what's going on, that's all that matters :woot:.

Interestingly, after getting curious about which clubs don't have screens at their stadium, I came across this.....


VAR ‘to be shown on big screens’ in Premier League but Man Utd can’t comply

The top flight is set to introduce the technology next season - but Manchester United and Liverpool do not have big screens in their stadia

VAR decisions could be shown on big screens in the Premier League next season — in a bid to ease fan tension, according to reports.

One of the biggest criticisms of the evolving technology has been supporter alienation, with man fans not having a clue what is going on, while TV viewers can see replays.

According to the Times, officials are hoping replays on big screens would help make it obvious to supporters — who are forking out big money to pay for games — why a decision has been reached.

It might also help alleviate any potential flashpoints among fans over a decision.


https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8223919/var-big-screens-premier-league-fan-tension/
 

Danners9

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Mar 30, 2004
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This was given offside just now. Perth vs Sydney in the A-League grand final.

D662xWaXoAAMOW7.jpg


It went to VAR and wasn't overturned because it was apparently too tight to call. It isn't. At all. It should have been a goal.
 

Saoirse

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Aug 20, 2013
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This was given offside just now. Perth vs Sydney in the A-League grand final.

D662xWaXoAAMOW7.jpg


It went to VAR and wasn't overturned because it was apparently too tight to call. It isn't. At all. It should have been a goal.
Definitely looks like a goal in that picture. The only question is whether that is the exact moment the ball leaves his foot.
 

nailsy

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Jul 24, 2005
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Interesting call in the nation's league semi final. A Switzerland player goes down in the Portugal area, but the ref waves play on. Portugal break up the other end and one of their players is brought down for a certain penalty. VAR goes and checks both incidents and gets the ref to take a look at the Swiss call. He gives a penalty for the first incident which looked very soft. Portugal thought they were going two up. But are brought back to one all.
 

mill

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May 21, 2007
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Interesting call in the nation's league semi final. A Switzerland player goes down in the Portugal area, but the ref waves play on. Portugal break up the other end and one of their players is brought down for a certain penalty. VAR goes and checks both incidents and gets the ref to take a look at the Swiss call. He gives a penalty for the first incident which looked very soft. Portugal thought they were going two up. But are brought back to one all.

It’s not even soft, it’s non existent
 

nailsy

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Jul 24, 2005
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It’s not even soft, it’s non existent

I couldn't see what it was given for. The Swiss player kicked his own leg. Was there a tiny bit of contact before that? I couldn't tell, but you'd assume the VAR guys and the ref saw something?
 

mill

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May 21, 2007
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I couldn't see what it was given for. The Swiss player kicked his own leg. Was there a tiny bit of contact before that? I couldn't tell, but you'd assume the VAR guys and the ref saw something?
I thought they thought Pepe handballed it? Which he didn’t, I really don’t understand
 

SteveH

BSoDL candidate for SW London
Jul 21, 2003
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It was for the slight contact which caused the swiss player to trip, even though he kicked his own foot!
It was deemed a penalty - we will settle for soft
 
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