I don’t agree with this at all. The biggest problem is that the refs are utterly incompetent. They are not up to the job, and when VAR is available it’s being used by the same incompetent refs.
They repeatedly avoid taking any responsibility for their mistakes, which is why it won’t ever improve until the lot of them are replaced.
MisterMiagy1 on
I absolutely 💯 agree, football was so much better before VAR.
CyclingUpsideDown on
It’s annoying me slightly that we’re getting a constant stream of managers and pundits blaming over-reliance on VAR for referees making mistakes in games where it’s not used.
It fundamentally misunderstands how VAR works.
Even with VAR, the on-field officials still need to make a decision and the expectation is that it will be the correct decision. VAR is a safety net that is designed to ensure that for “match-changing incidents”, the correct decision is eventually reached (in theory at least); it’s not a safety net for the referees themselves. Any “clear and obvious error” requiring VAR intervention will see them marked down in their assessment. Too many “clear and obvious errors” and they’ll either be downgraded or left out entirely in the next round of referee appointments.
So officials won’t change how they officiate, outside of the usual delaying of decisions (offside flags, free kicks to defending teams etc.).
jclahaie on
Var catching strays when it is involved and when it is not involved. Make up your mind guys
InMyLiverpoolHome25 on
Referees were shite before VAR and theyre shite now.
The underlying issue is PGMOL. We get the best players, managers and coaches from around the world yet the referee world is entirely a boy’s club of lads from Greater Manchester with no accountability
Diligent_Craft_1165 on
Last round people said it was great having no VAR. Now some mistakes and it’s shit again. Football fans are so fickle.
If you can’t spot those obvious calls you shouldn’t be refereeing. There’s nothing to say the same idiots with var would do anything better.
jaybizzleeightyfour on
We saw they’re useless with VAR too when only a few days ago they thought it was fine for Foden to rake his studs down the back of someone’s achilles
We’d be as well getting rid of most of it, but have it only for semi automated offsides, the officials make as many mistakes with or without it and using it to check every incident of a match really ruins the energy/flow
PaulaDeen21 on
Well yes, they are now Eddie… obviously. Use your brain please mate.
This is exactly what progress looks like, same way using a paper roadmap to cross Europe is a dying skill.
The actual issue is why is VAR to some degree not available for all games regardless of competition. There are cameras watching the game at all stadiums, that is enough for it to used for most of its purpose.
This really shouldn’t be controversial…
killcole on
He’s right. Over reliance on VAR is a problem regardless of whether VAR is there to intervene, or whether it does intervene or not. Refs are shifting their responsibility onto a third party and that has to have an effect on what they’re willing to call in real time relative to what they would call pre VAR.
Goalkeeper blocking is a clear example. Refs are unsure so they want to defer to VAR. VAR deems it not clear and obvious enough to intervene. And now we’ve essentially legalised fouling keepers from corners, with the defending team having to risk giving away a penalty to stop it.
netscorer1 on
Agree. This was one of the worst refereeing I’ve seen in a while. Newcastle still got the result that should take them to the semifinal, but not thanks to the ref for sure.
elreytortuga on
And what exactly were they relying on before VAR was brought into the game?
It’s a lot of games like yesterday’s that made everyone cave in and implement VAR.
It’s been over 6 years now but surely we don’t all have such short memories …
Inarticulatescot on
I absolutely hate this narrative. Referees were always and always will be as bad as they were in that game. VAR is a tool they can use to make their job easier and their decisions more correct. IMHO we need more VAR consultation not less, just have an open mic to your colleagues watching video feeds. “Did that ball come off red or blue John? Ok ta, throw in to red” “was that a corner? No? Ok” etc the onfield ref should just be the representative for the whole refereeing team.
12 Comments
I don’t agree with this at all. The biggest problem is that the refs are utterly incompetent. They are not up to the job, and when VAR is available it’s being used by the same incompetent refs.
They repeatedly avoid taking any responsibility for their mistakes, which is why it won’t ever improve until the lot of them are replaced.
I absolutely 💯 agree, football was so much better before VAR.
It’s annoying me slightly that we’re getting a constant stream of managers and pundits blaming over-reliance on VAR for referees making mistakes in games where it’s not used.
It fundamentally misunderstands how VAR works.
Even with VAR, the on-field officials still need to make a decision and the expectation is that it will be the correct decision. VAR is a safety net that is designed to ensure that for “match-changing incidents”, the correct decision is eventually reached (in theory at least); it’s not a safety net for the referees themselves. Any “clear and obvious error” requiring VAR intervention will see them marked down in their assessment. Too many “clear and obvious errors” and they’ll either be downgraded or left out entirely in the next round of referee appointments.
So officials won’t change how they officiate, outside of the usual delaying of decisions (offside flags, free kicks to defending teams etc.).
Var catching strays when it is involved and when it is not involved. Make up your mind guys
Referees were shite before VAR and theyre shite now.
The underlying issue is PGMOL. We get the best players, managers and coaches from around the world yet the referee world is entirely a boy’s club of lads from Greater Manchester with no accountability
Last round people said it was great having no VAR. Now some mistakes and it’s shit again. Football fans are so fickle.
If you can’t spot those obvious calls you shouldn’t be refereeing. There’s nothing to say the same idiots with var would do anything better.
We saw they’re useless with VAR too when only a few days ago they thought it was fine for Foden to rake his studs down the back of someone’s achilles
We’d be as well getting rid of most of it, but have it only for semi automated offsides, the officials make as many mistakes with or without it and using it to check every incident of a match really ruins the energy/flow
Well yes, they are now Eddie… obviously. Use your brain please mate.
This is exactly what progress looks like, same way using a paper roadmap to cross Europe is a dying skill.
The actual issue is why is VAR to some degree not available for all games regardless of competition. There are cameras watching the game at all stadiums, that is enough for it to used for most of its purpose.
This really shouldn’t be controversial…
He’s right. Over reliance on VAR is a problem regardless of whether VAR is there to intervene, or whether it does intervene or not. Refs are shifting their responsibility onto a third party and that has to have an effect on what they’re willing to call in real time relative to what they would call pre VAR.
Goalkeeper blocking is a clear example. Refs are unsure so they want to defer to VAR. VAR deems it not clear and obvious enough to intervene. And now we’ve essentially legalised fouling keepers from corners, with the defending team having to risk giving away a penalty to stop it.
Agree. This was one of the worst refereeing I’ve seen in a while. Newcastle still got the result that should take them to the semifinal, but not thanks to the ref for sure.
And what exactly were they relying on before VAR was brought into the game?
It’s a lot of games like yesterday’s that made everyone cave in and implement VAR.
It’s been over 6 years now but surely we don’t all have such short memories …
I absolutely hate this narrative. Referees were always and always will be as bad as they were in that game. VAR is a tool they can use to make their job easier and their decisions more correct. IMHO we need more VAR consultation not less, just have an open mic to your colleagues watching video feeds. “Did that ball come off red or blue John? Ok ta, throw in to red” “was that a corner? No? Ok” etc the onfield ref should just be the representative for the whole refereeing team.