VAR

[SoccerHQ]

How anyone could think Jack had actually fouled in the build up was beyond me. He was running with the ball and Christensen just stands and blocks him off.

[dave shelley]

How anyone could think Jack had actually fouled in the build up was beyond me. He was running with the ball and Christensen just stands and blocks him off.

Didn't Christensen stick a leg out and foul Jack as he was passed?  Looked like it to me.

[Ian.]

I said the same, if anything Jack was impeded. I didn’t understand what the commentators were on about.

[Malandro]

Get rid of VAR.

I'd rather think that the referee needed spectacles.

[DrGonzo]

Some form of rolling viewing by an external official who can alert the on pitch ref when he has severely dropped a bollock might be more palatable.

[Nev]

It doesn't work.

[Mister E]

Having technology is a great thing; no problem.
The challenge is to agree how to use it to its advantage and to put in place the guidelines for refs that make sense and minimise subjectivity. The offside rule is the obvious example of this: because of the precision now available, the rule clearly needs to change to retain the spirit of the law. This has not happened.
My sense is that refs saw VAR as an opportunity to justify their own decisions and cover their arse: look how linemen are now instructed not to flag for offside until a move has concluded - this is crazy and frustrating for players and fans, but it is done to avoid embarrassment of the officials.

[Nev]

5 minute long forensic analysis has now turned into a cursary glance and "fuck it" attitude.

[algy]

Know I'm preaching to the converted, but the way VAR is used is utterly ludicrous. One example is the offside rule. If you're judging something based on millimeters, that's happening in a fraction of a second - how on earth is either the attacking or defending player going to judge that in real life? They can't decide to start their run with an accuracy measured in hundreths of a second. The decision is being made on very little more than random chance.

A similar argument could be made on how much of a conscious decision was made for Doug's "foul", resulting in a penalty. It's a nonsense to award a penalty based on something where you choose easily argue that the foul is neither deliberate, nor a clear cut case. An indirect free kick at a push, but certainly not a penalty.

All of this is especially brought in to focus when it's also *not* being used to clamp down on clear cut foul play, like the Mings-Zaha incident, where there was clearly a punch in the stomach.

I don't have any problem at all with the principle of VAR, but the way it's being applied is nothing short of ridiculous, and causes far more harm than good.

[ChicagoLion]

When the PL/ FA allowed the creation of the PGMOL and  its full control over VAR, It  was the equivalent of the Federal Aviation Authority abdicating Air Safety responsibility to Boeing in respect of the 737 Max.

Quit custodiet ipsos custodes?

[oldtimernow]

Can anyone tell me when an indirect free kick was last awarded in the penalty area?

[ChicagoLion]

Can anyone tell me when an indirect free kick was last awarded in the penalty area?

Back pass to goalkeeper yesterday.

[Sleeuwenhoek]

and that was then taken from outside!

[Lastfootstamper]

and that was then taken from outside!

Really? That's something basic that refs should be all over, like trying to sneakily take a free kick for offside in the opposition's half.

[The Edge]

I've looked at a random selection of other clubs fan forums and one thing is for certain. Football fans have had a belly full of all the VAR nonsense. They always say that without the fans football is nothing and the whole not being able to celebrate a goal properly is turning fans against the sport in droves and the only place where we get to express our feelings about VAR is on our respective forums. There's no joined up thinking. So I'm wondering if it could it be possible to form an alliance of Premier League supporters to make ourselves heard. Something like "Football fans against VAR" I really feel like we need to make ourselves heard on this.