Standard of Refereeing

[Mister E]

Interesting how VAR is now getting involved in almost all the activity on the pitch. Just watching the Chelsea Leeds game and it has seemingly checked a throw-in as well as confirming a yellow card decision. Neither of those were in the original VAR remit. Bizarre.

And, while I'm at it, why do refs pace out the 10yds for free kicks that are vaguely in shooting distance, and ignore the ruling for free kicks in other areas of the pitch? I used, as a ref, to yellow-card players for not withdrawing to the 10yds distance.

[tony scott]

I think refs have come to rely on var so don’t make decisions

[Exeter 77]

I think refs have come to rely on var so don’t make decisions

Apart from Thomas Barmhall.

[dcdavecollett]

Perhaps he'll pay us back the thirty-odd million from his Prem ref's salary.

[jwarry]

I think refs have come to rely on var so don’t make decisions

Apart from Thomas Barmhall.

Whatever happened to him?

[Chap]

Reffing League 2 games, probably.

[ian c.]

He was in charge of the Brighton v Palace game last Sunday.

He doesn't seem to have had any involvement in any of our games this season. They're probably saving him for the Manchester City game at the end of the season.

[lovejoy]

I think the refs typically do their best navigating the inconsistencies and subjectivity in the laws when it is beteeen the non big 6 clubs.
The issue comes with the big 6 teams. As has been said above,  The refs are naturally more reluctant to give controversial decisions against them, particularly when laying non big 6 sides, because they will come under massive media scrutiny and also may be stopped from reffing those teams  again. Naturallly the bigger matches.Fetgusson used this all the time to select preferable referees.

[Hookeysmith]

I have said this a few time but i think the most shit thing about VAR is the fact that the muppets like Neville and co get to know the outcome well before the paying fans do in the stadium after waiting for 5 minutes.

I also feel that when you hear same said pundits comment "Ref took a few seconds there to decide" it really means ref did nothing and VAR told him in his ear "that was a foul" etc

It has gone from being a ref support to being the faction that refs the game in the main. I do not think any ref has a bias against us BUT i do support clearly the intimidation / size of the club plays a huge impact on their decision making. I mean it always did as i remember many end of game winning pens awarded at the Kop end when P.lop were in their pomp.

Its just now it is a lot easer to manipulate decisions by the assistance of VAR in certain teams favour*

And i have not heard a credible reasoning behind the auto off side using any part of the anatomy to call offside - i always thought it was a goal scoring part of the body??

*and certain teams are the same scum 6 money teams that all the media fawn over to try and maintain their position as click bait leaders

[Somniloquism]

I also feel that when you hear same said pundits comment "Ref took a few seconds there to decide" it really means ref did nothing and VAR told him in his ear "that was a foul" etc

You might feel it, but as the Duran sending off shows, they are actually getting info from the Assistant Ref and fourth official. Of course, as that commentary shows, he will just ignore them both and make his own decision if a player happens to be holding somewhere else for no reason he even knew at the time. (It could have easily been a groin strain as much as being caught with a foot). Once he did red VAR was not overruling it.

[Rico]

I've always thought that the best way to implement VAR would be to allow the ref to do his job, and allow each team two opportunities to ask the ref to review any incidents in each half. You could then do away with Stockley Park, and the ref would have to review his decision on a monitor.

[Rigadon]

I quite like that idea Rico.

[Toronto Villa]

I've always thought that the best way to implement VAR would be to allow the ref to do his job, and allow each team two opportunities to ask the ref to review any incidents in each half. You could then do away with Stockley Park, and the ref would have to review his decision on a monitor.

I've suggested the same in the past. The NFL has coaches challenges and football could do the same thing. Now in the NFL there is video replay on all touchdowns but usually those are reasonably quick as there needs to clear evidence to overturn the onfield decision. Where it gets a little complex at times is on certain catches. But the PL and football could learn a lot from how the NFL uses video replay and at least get better. Most fans just don't need football decisions to be so specific or forensically adjudicated.

[Hookeysmith]

I've always thought that the best way to implement VAR would be to allow the ref to do his job, and allow each team two opportunities to ask the ref to review any incidents in each half. You could then do away with Stockley Park, and the ref would have to review his decision on a monitor.

It was the likes of Sky that constantly pushed to get video refereeing into the game as i would "stop all the incorrect calls"  What they have now they feel must add to the "drama" of the premier league product they have control over so there is no way it will ever be pulled back. If anything it will start looking at corners, throw ins and all aspects of the game. The longer it takes the more they can force feed us their tactical insights of the likes of Neville, Smith and and the squealing Carragher

[tomd2103]

Interesting how VAR is now getting involved in almost all the activity on the pitch. Just watching the Chelsea Leeds game and it has seemingly checked a throw-in as well as confirming a yellow card decision. Neither of those were in the original VAR remit. Bizarre.

They have made a mess of it really.  The whole idea was that it was going to eradicate the 'howler' not be used to officiate the game.  It's the same with rugby, there just seems to be this fascination to try and make sure that every single decision is right and it's spoiling the game. 

They could have made it very simple and just kept to the principle that an on-field decision should only be overturned if a clear and obvious mistake has been made.