VAR and is there a way to fix it?

[Toffee1]

[Goaljira]

Can't really argue with any of that.

A lot of it can be fixed though. The killer is with the offside checks though. The way the rules are now I don't know how you fix it other than abolishing it.

[cassius]

I'm all for using technology in matches.

I don't recall it being a huge issue when it was used in the last World Cup?

It's the people, at the Premier League, the PGMOL and how they're managing VAR that's the problem.

It shouldn't be too difficult to fix or update for next season:

- Get actual football people running it at Stockley Park
- Make them and the ref accountable by showing the video and audio as it happens
- Put the on field ref in charge, make them go to VAR, not the other way around, unless it's a clear and obvious goal or red card. And none of this go and look at the monitor nonsense that always results in a pen.
- Automate as much as possible (people drawing their own lines FFS)
- And until it's automated, make offside so that it's daylight rather than splitting hairs over heels and elbows

[Shogun]

I'll be honest in that my enjoyment of football is significantly reduced since the introduction of VAR.

I think it's good for getting rid of some absolute howlers that go missed and I genuinely enjoy that part of it. However, it's just had too much of an impact on matches now whether it's 1mm offside calls, VAR intervening when it isn't necessary, VAR not intervening when it is necessary, referees no longer willing to make decisions themselves, long stoppages, lack of communication with the crowd and just a massive inconsistency across the board in the way it's used.

I think we've learned from VAR that more referees involved doesn't automatically mean fairer or more correct decisions. I am relatively happy to go back to referees/linesmen on the pitch officiating the game and accepting that some howlers will just happen as part of the game. If they want to go to semi-automated offsides then I'd be content with that but I think VAR has overall been worse for the game.

[weimaranerblues]

Is the officiating that's gone to shite , games too fast to gib it all now , all it will show is more mistakes if we scrap it now , that pen then for Chelsea a great example

[Stumpy]

I'll be honest in that my enjoyment of football is significantly reduced since the introduction of VAR.

I think it's good for getting rid of some absolute howlers that go missed and I genuinely enjoy that part of it. However, it's just had too much of an impact on matches now whether it's 1mm offside calls, VAR intervening when it isn't necessary, VAR not intervening when it is necessary, referees no longer willing to make decisions themselves, long stoppages, lack of communication with the crowd and just a massive inconsistency across the board in the way it's used.

I think we've learned from VAR that more referees involved doesn't automatically mean fairer or more correct decisions. I am relatively happy to go back to referees/linesmen on the pitch officiating the game and accepting that some howlers will just happen as part of the game. If they want to go to semi-automated offsides then I'd be content with that but I think VAR has overall been worse for the game.

Great post shogs.
I would be delighted if they binned it of completely.
Not only for the reasons you stated, but for stealing the joy and elation when a goal is scored.
Even if the goal is given, we have lost the initial delight slightly, it's just not the same

[Cereal Killer]

1. Bin off Howard Webb running it as some kind of private business

2. Train some people in using the technology properly, definitely not any referees as they just try and cover each others incompetencies. I’m not sure they need any football knowledge, it’s about applying the tools correctly

3. Broadcast the audio between the ref and the technologist similar to rugby

[Shogun]

[CannockPricey]

I'm amazed Everton is as low as 55%

[Zoolander]

You just need to look at how well ruby and cricket use technology in game. Granted it’s not 100% but it’s light years above the premier league. One thing in common with both sports is it’s transparent and you can hear the referee/umpire and the decisions…..

[AllyBlue14]

They have to keep it, just do it better.

We've come up with plenty of suggestions to improve it and they're all pretty easily implemented. Common sense, people who understand football, transparency. And rules that are applied consistently.

Tennis, rugby and cricket all have better versions. Athletics and horse racing use photo finishes. It's absolutely laughable that football's system is so far behind.

[biziclop]

Tennis, rugby and cricket all have better versions. Athletics and horse racing use photo finishes. It's absolutely laughable that football's system is so far behind.

There is a huge difference between all those sports and football: a lot of football's rules are based on the concept of intent. This is what makes football so watchable but it's also this that causes applying VAR to those rules a mess. (Well, assuming that VAR is applied well, which in England it isn't, but that's its own story.)

For rules that are purely geometry-based (was the ball over the line or not, was one player closer to the goal than the other) automated checks are absolutely the way, as evidenced by the 100% uncontroversial goal-line technology.

But a lot of decisions in football come down to "did the player really mean that?" or similar questions and for those you cannot replace people who understand the game and how it's being played at the different levels. Any attempts to do so will only end in frustration and a feeling of injustice.

[biziclop]

Based on this, what I would do is:

1. Bin VAR for now because as it stands, it's a clusterfuck of disappointment.
2. Take some time to think through what rules we want to/don't want to apply automated checks for.
3. Develop and test those automated checks properly, like they did with the goal line stuff, don't rush it.
4. For everything else, introduce a challenge system that would require the referee to go to the pitchside screens and check the replays. The VAR crew's role will be reduced to providing the requested footage, all decisions will be made by the referee
5. Referees' match reports to be made public, along with their scoring/ranking system and league tables.

[Goaljira]

Based on this, what I would do is:

1. Bin VAR for now because as it stands, it's a clusterfuck of disappointment.
2. Take some time to think through what rules we want to/don't want to apply automated checks for.
3. Develop and test those automated checks properly, like they did with the goal line stuff, don't rush it.
4. For everything else, introduce a challenge system that would require the referee to go to the pitchside screens and check the replays. The VAR crew's role will be reduced to providing the requested footage, all decisions will be made by the referee
5. Referees' match reports to be made public, along with their scoring/ranking system and league tables.

This is the right idea. Just make the VAR people a bunch of tech guys who can queue up the replays for when the ref decides they need them or the managers throw a challenge flag. Use with the automated goal line and offside technology, and we're on the right track.

[AllyBlue14]

There is a huge difference between all those sports and football: a lot of football's rules are based on the concept of intent. This is what makes football so watchable but it's also this that causes applying VAR to those rules a mess. (Well, assuming that VAR is applied well, which in England it isn't, but that's its own story.)

For rules that are purely geometry-based (was the ball over the line or not, was one player closer to the goal than the other) automated checks are absolutely the way, as evidenced by the 100% uncontroversial goal-line technology.

But a lot of decisions in football come down to "did the player really mean that?" or similar questions and for those you cannot replace people who understand the game and how it's being played at the different levels. Any attempts to do so will only end in frustration and a feeling of injustice.

I'm not really sure what point you're making here. Intent hasn't got anything to do with offside, and that's the main bone of contention with VAR. And I said we need automated checks for those anyway.

And I also said you need people who understand the game to be involved in the decision-making, and for the rules to be applied consistently. There's always going to be some element of referee subjectivity as to what constitutes handball or foul play (just like there is in cricket with umpire's call for LBW) but the VAR should be there to help.

It would also be nice for the referees to have the courage of their convictions - just because they're called to the monitor doesn't mean they have to overturn their decision every time.