I’m not enjoying this VAR at the World Cup at all. Total mess. And only a few games in ⚽️
@simonwoods the France Pen was not a Pen. I don’t mind GLT as it’s a camera / robot but every goal being checked in case offside. Checking the decisions with VAR is slow and just not needed.
@simonwoods I know there is a lot of money etc riding on it but when I use to kick a ball around the park it was the same as the World Cup now technology due to money puts a distance between the game and the people but that maybe also why I don’t like it and find fault
@adamprocter Nah. Up until a couple of years ago I spent years watching a lot of football and I can tell you for sure this isn't that slow; most matches have about 30 minutes of dead time and even in the early stages it looks like VAR mostly fills that time.
The France pen was definitely pen IMO. However, I haven't recently looked at the rules/guidelines re: contact so I can see how it shouldn't have been given if the rules say so.
Also overall, "a total mess"? Really? I've noticed basically the same amount of video replays as is normal for TV games, the only difference being that officials are also looking and making decisions before bothering the referee.
@adamprocter I’m torn about this. I think I’ll watch a couple more games before passing judgment. But I fear that players will just circle the ref in every situation and demand VAR.
@simonwoods I’ve been a season ticket holder for a few decades so I’ve seen a few games and i think VAR has the potential to ruin many moments in a game. We shall see how it pans out but for now I am against it and the use it’s likely to see in premiership which is the hassling of referees as has become a disgrace in the game.
@adamprocter Ah! OK that makes sense. TBH there isn't much about the game resembling that notion, sepcifically since the early eighties but I understand that feeling since, frankly, that idea was sold hard in mainstream football in this country even when it was patently untrue.
Don't get me wrong I still understand; I used to be immersed to a greater extent but have taken a step back because it was difficult to tolerate the horrible side of football, from the pro's all the way down to some of the fans... I've found it refreshing to just dip back in for stuff like the World Cup.
@simonwoods being a fan and owner of a club (@afcwimbledon) that is very different to most of the professional game I agree with the issue around football totally.
@adamprocter That behaviour is one of the things that really got to me. It's basically bullying and often done in a childish way, the kind of behaviour any respectable professional would never engage in.
However, I wonder if VAR could help; often in matches the bigger personalities engage in intimidating the ref (and thus it becomes an even bigger problem when we're talking about the biggest matches with the biggest players) and as I said I think it's just bullying in the end. Now, you can't bully a video so I wonder if -- assuming this is employed most appropriately -- eventually the players learn that there's no point in intimidating anymore, at least for the most part; I think this would need to be reinforced by punishments for the behaviour, which ought to be a thing anyway but I think there's a chance it could work.
@adamprocter The fan-ownership model is a genuine light in the dark. It'd be amazing to see it spread and we know it's possible when we look at both Wimbledon and Barcelona (from what I understand there are two different infrastructures but the basic idea is the same) so I guess there's always hope.
@furstenberg yes. The refs have been told to use it so it’s a little boys and new top s but I think it’s just about money, has the game got that much quicker that a ref on the pitch makes too many mistakes. I think I’d rather 2 refs on the field (plus linesmen)
@furstenberg I don't understand why assoc. football doesn't adopt the code of conduct regarding referees that pertains in rugby football. You don't ever question the ref, you don't ever speak to the ref unless spoken to, if you break that rule, 10 metres. Break it again, off you pop.
@simonwoods there are many more teams that just those, wikipedia has a list, and I'm delighted to see that most of the Irish Premier Division teams are on it.
@adamprocter But they’ve also been told to use it sparingly from my understanding.
So I’m hopeful, but think the games with extra refs is a better idea.
@furstenberg well, just by way of an example, here's rugby ref & legend Nigel Owens explaining the matter to a Treviso player - its a short clip - Enjoy