VAR

Like most things we are opposed to change.
I'm more concerned about the balls.
Problems in a number of games.

Watching the Sweden v South Korea, VAR used for the first time correctly.

makes sense to me.

Overall, I like it.

Anything that reduces the percentage of incorrect decisions is fine by me. So if refs get 15% of everything wrong and VAR reduces this to 5% surely that can only be beneficial to the game as a whole.
"Reduce", because nothing will ever totally get rid of mistakes - hence the nonsense of Harry Kane being rugby tackled and no penalty.
The Harry Kane error was merely an example of more human error - i.e. human error in terms of not dealing correctly with the evidence of VAR; in the same way that referees misinterpret what they see before/without VAR.

VAR is normality is many other sports, yet human error in interpreting VAR exists there - hence one definite and one possible VAR mistake against New England in the Superbowl against Philadelphia, possibly costing them the win; yet NFL fans are not turning against it. Why throw the baby out with the bathwater?

The single biggest criticism of VAR before its proper introduction was that it would disrupt the flow of the game. It hasn't at all. Very little time has been taken in matches to deal with VAR issues; and this situation will only improve as referees become more experienced and confident in its use.

VAR also has the potential to greatly reduce cheating - diving, shirt pulling, etc. If VAR was in use 32 years ago there is no Hand of God issue.

Like goal-line technology, in 2 years' time (with 2 years' refinement and experience) we'll be wondering how we managed without it.

NWH, all reasoned points matey, but I'm sticking with VAR :-)



As already mentioned... "nothing will ever totally get rid of mistakes - hence the nonsense of Harry Kane being rugby tackled and no penalty.
The Harry Kane error was merely an example of more human error - i.e. human error in terms of not dealing correctly with the evidence of VAR; in the same way that referees misinterpret what they see before/without VAR."



This was always ever going to be the way. VAR is new. What else would they talk about? It would be strange if they didn't. Something else will be flavour-of-the-month at the next World Cup.


Surely justice should prevail, even if it means the odd interruption. Two matches is acceptable, with 20 matches played so far. And the more VAR is used the more these 'wrinkles' will be ironed out.
I would happily have play called back, with Germany on the attack, to correctly award Frank Lampard the goal that wasn't in 2010.
Sure, this is a goal-line technology issue, but that is the point - goal-line technology caused controversy at first; now it's accepted to minimise error and augment fairness.

VAR descended in to farce tonight in the Portugal Iran game.

It needed a lot more trialing before it was used at the highest level.