Seeing as we're all bored, just a quick moan about VAR if that's OK???
I've argued for years that Referees need a professional backup to do their job, in the 21st Century. Goal line technology is fantastic and the concept of video technology I fully support, TYPICALLY, for Footballing authorities, it is being appallingly implemented and I think, in ONE fundamental area, they've got it ALL. TOTALLY. WRONG.
Italy's penalty last night was, in my humble opinion, never a penalty. If we're going to give them out when someone accidently steps on someone's foot (Who has lost control of the ball anyway), we might as well all pack up and go home. Stupid. Anyway, the referee gave a corner, the Italians ALL insisted it was a corner. That HAS to be the end of it. It simply HAS to be down to the referee, not some faceless individual hidden away who then confuses everyone and holds up play to make a decision such as that. That wasn't, as is written in the VAR guidelines, a "clearly wrong decision ... made in conjunction with the award or non-award of a penalty kick" - debate reigns today across the football world as to whether or not it was penalty ... hardly clearly wrong if you ask me!.
Conspiracy theorists of the World can unite IF that sort of decision is made by a German, against England, in a World Cup Final (Fat chance I know, but you get the gist!) OR a Brazilian against Argentina etc. etc.
My biggest and, really only, argument against it is that it HAS to be used ONLY by the referee, when he (or she) is not certain about such a decision. Last nights example; Corner. That is what the referee, confidently, gave at the time. So all those 'traditionalists' who moan "Oh you can't have that, it will take all the debate out of the pub and spoil the fun" ... clearly it won't, people would still argue it was a penalty today. If the referee, a 40 something year old man, struggling to keep up with a bunch of millionaire athletes who ping a ball around WAY faster than any human can move and are TAUGHT and train at how to cheat!, see's someone go down in the penalty area and they are CONVINCED it was a foul. Penalty, there and then. Done. IF, and only if, he may be unsure (HE, no-one else) then he should be able to call in VAR to help HIM make the decision. I suspect if this was the case, many many more Yellows would be shown at the time, thereby punishing the cheats, rather than in retrospect, when the points have been won or lost.
That's all really, just felt the need to use you all as my VAR therapist .. Dr Mike, how much would that be at normal rates??!?! :)
Toodle Pip StigOfTheVARDump _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ RIP Jimmy WAC-COE
