[Football] How to fix VAR ?

[PILTDOWN MAN]

The advantage of a review though is that only the ref reviews. He doesn’t have a VAR ref in his ear telling him what he thinks.

Totally agree and I've posted this above. Ref's shouldn't be convinced by others sitting in an office to change a decision. He should be given the full speed replay and make his own decision. Currently decisions are being micro analysed by a group of people. The loudest voice wins the debate. With subjective views we all know views differ.

It's a complete waste of time telling the ref to go to a screen when the VAR has already made the decision for him. Would love to hear the on field ref say to the VAR team you're f***ing barking mad, no way am I changing my decision now f*** off and let me ref the game, pricks.

 

[gripper stebson]

Here's my idea...

Do away with Stockley Park. If the onfield ref wants to look at something a bit closer he can get it cued up and go and have a look. Not perfect but seems less complicated - and keeps one man in charge.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

1) Install semi-automated offsides, which were used at the World Cup.
View attachment 170373
2) Bin the rest (excluding goal-line technology), until the rules are clear and the refereeing is consistent.

In the spirit of the game, and being level is onside, it is far too precise. The whole reason for offside is to stop the attacker from gaining an advantage, having a running stride out of sync with the defender meaning your big toe is in front him/her is not what the law was brought in for.

 

[ewe2]

Thicker offside lines

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Anfield and Old Trafford don't have big screens...

Relegate those clubs then until they can be premier-league ready

 

[herecomesaregular]

Hate it, because of the inability to celebrate properly, rather it was binned but it won't be. It only suits the TV fan-who-isn't-really-a-fan because it adds "drama". I even find myself watching tv games as a neutral and laughing about VAR review changes when really it should not be that way.

For me, the man in the middle must make all decisions and feel empowered to do so. Therefore, agree that any bods in VAR must not be current referee "mates" (or enemies I suppose). It's ok to nudge the ref to review a clip themselves pitchside but I don't agree other than a "review" instruction that there should be any comment or conversation at all from VAR people. Too undermining. If the ref reviews without any inference what is missed then it's easier for him to stick to his first opinion rather than feeling he has to change it, which always seems the way at the moment. Called to the monitor = change of mind. Therefore, someone else is interfering too much. I just want one referee. If they turn out to be crap too often then just bin them.

Would be happier with other suggestions already - automatic offsides only (because they will be flagged hopefully before the ball is in the net, not ruining a celebration) and no slow mo.

And pay and train the refs more if necessary.

 

[SeagullinExile]

Stop the clock when play stops & give teams 3 chances to review incidents, kind of like a fusion of Rugby and Cricket.....

Or bin it off completely.

 

[Krafty]

In the spirit of the game, and being level is onside, it is far too precise. The whole reason for offside is to stop the attacker from gaining an advantage, having a running stride out of sync with the defender meaning your big toe is in front him/her is not what the law was brought in for.

Offsides should be objective - you are either onside or offside (even if it is your big toe). If we really want consistency, then the rules must be clear.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

We wouldn't have gotten a single pen against AEK Athens if this was the case.

None if this conversation is about how to benefit the Albion.

The game of football is more important than if any particular team wins or loses

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Thicker offside lines

How thick?

 

[Coldeanseagull]

I like the idea of a review

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Off-sides are coming down to cm/inches and GPS technology is still +/- a few metres so currently won't help.

I don't think anybody really wants offside to be judged down to the nearest inch though.
We just need something (anything really) that can instantly flag up if a player was well offside if the linesman's been caught out or had an aberration and missed it.

I'd add the question - How do you determine when the ball has been played? The ball will always be in contact with the foot/head for a reasonable fraction of a second.

I feel like you* could stick an accelerometer in the ball that would pick up when the ball stops accelerating when kicked.
*The Premier League. Not you personally.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I have come to believe that the PL and Sky and BT actually want all the added drama and controversy that VAR brings, it's become part of the football product that they pay for and market. You constantly hear commentators saying gleefully "ooooh, VAR will take a look at that". VAR is for the TV audiences, they really don't care about the supporters watching live. And the PL and PGMOL are not at all invested in making it work properly.

It needs a boycott - UK wide, every PL team, on the same weekend. But I think we know that's not going to happen.

But yes the thread title should be "how do we get rid of VAR" rather than how do we improve it

 

[Dick Swiveller]

I’m interested to know what the good people of NSC think are sensible (soccer) solutions

5 Pages and I am first to do it?

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Offsides should be objective - you are either onside or offside (even if it is your big toe). If we really want consistency, then the rules must be clear.

But they should be objective to the striker, he's trying to stay onside by the law which says level is onside. If he has to think about his toe or shoulder being marginally ahead of the defender then strikers have to relearn the game

 

[kevo]

Whatever the solution, it must be clear to everyone involved (even those at PGMOL) that VAR in its present format is simply not working.

I wonder if there will be one game or one incident which marks a turning point. Where everyone says - 'This is mental. This has to stop'.

Perhaps last night was it? Probably not, as it was between two mid-level EPL teams and was just a regular league game. But say if that penalty happened at the end of the season and resulted in a team getting relegated, or failing to qualify for the Champions League, or prevented them winning the FA Cup?

Does the Football Supporters Association still exist? Perhaps if the fans all got together under a collective voice something could be done.

 

[virtual22]

I think overall VAR has been a disaster for the game. But also I think we need to look at the teams themselves and trying to constantly con the referee, some teams are worse than others, all teams do it including ours. How many times have we seen players go down like they've been shot then jump up and run to the ref or back into play when they don't get the free kick they wanted? Claiming for throw ins and corners where they clearly know they touched the ball last?

I think where video could really help is reviewing the footage after the game and anyone seen to be cheating, lets face it, that's what it is, should get a retrospective yellow/red/ban. This would also include feigning injury.

 

[Littlemo]

Almost every suggestion on this thread so far would improve VAR. So why is it that the powers that be in football can't work this out?

No it wouldn’t half of them are impossible

Stop subjective decisions? They are all subjective! The problem is exactly that, the application of rules to a game that is refereed entirely subjectively.

30 second rule? You can’t even get it back to the correct position and watch it once in 30 seconds, never mind make a decision.

If you think that letting it go back to the ref or the linesman will stop complaints or people being mad about decisions you are wrong.

Some of the rules need changed, like offside, the current rules benefit nobody and I doubt anyone likes them in the current form. Wenger put forward a really good idea about players having to be fully ahead of the last player, which looks a lot better.

I honestly think we are in danger of seeing the refs walk out, or leave the game entirely, the pressure must be unbearable and the bottom line is that most of this is manufactured by clubs and fans who simply can’t accept calls against them. Look at Sat, I didn’t think it was much of a pen for Forest BUT I can see why it might be given as there is a pull and Hinshelwood does look like he’s caught him. It’s a call that can go either way, yet we yell about it being wrong and even Cooper is yelling because VAR did what it’s meant to do and told Taylor to look.

Even the Dunk red, everyone is angry and saying it’s unfair but it’s not even wrong. Just because it’s not normally given doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be punished for crossing the line more than most and again we are moaning.

The refs could be better and a bit more aligned BUT football is looking for standards of accuracy and perfection that’s not achievable. If refs gave out yellows for every potential offence, there would never be anyone on the pitch. VAR has simply highlighted that referees need to use discretion and yeah, that leads to inconsistencies - like rugby btw. They miss loads, it’s just they aren’t all screaming about it.

 

[Mr Bridger]

Stockley park.

 

[Mackenzie]

"Football is for the fans", "football is nothing without the fans"......ok then lets have a fan referendum. Simple question: VAR Yes, VAR No

My feeling is that it was brought in to aid the referee and stop contentious decisions, if anything it's made things a lot worse, so you then have to ask yourself what's the point?