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VAR – A Force For Good?

By Dr Andy Hershon

So I think we all agree not giving Luis Diaz his on-side goal was a total farce. Even at the time I thought it was onside. I didn’t even have to draw a line on the TV. Romero’s boot was pointed like that of Ballerina. Instead of ‘Adidas’ it could have had ‘this boot is playing him on’ on it.

I think it’s time for a discussion on VAR in general. Is it time to dump it, or can we change it to something that is more transparent and works better?

I’m glad to say everything regarding that one decision is fine now. PGMOL (Professional Games Match Officials Limited) have apologised and the bloke (and his side kick) have been given two weeks off. Really? So that’s it? I’m a GP, if I make awful mistakes, there’s rather more at stake for both my patient and my own personal future.

I gather the audio has gone missing. It might have gone something like this.

Queue stage right. In the most important game of the week, Luis Diaz brilliantly springs the offside trap to score a great and massively important goal which would have changed the shape of the whole game. The online linesman incorrectly flags offside, goal not given.

Simon (Hooper, ref): ‘Hey Daz (England – VAR), what do you reckon?’
Daz: ‘Reckon about what, mate?’
Simon: ‘The Diaz goal – was it offside?’
Daz: ‘We’re just having our tea m8. I’ll ask Baz (VAR Assistant) to get a new felt tip. I can’t find the ruler either’
Daz (shouting): ‘Baz, leave the bar, get us a pen n ruler and get over to this telly’
Baz: ‘but I’m watching the Ryder Cup’
Daz: ‘Get over here and get drawing those lines I taught you yesterday.’
Daz: ‘Hey Si, you mentioned a goal. You’re good to carry on then’

Spurs take free kick for ‘offside’.

Daz: ‘Si Si.. NOOO’ I meant give a goal. Stop the game quick! Blow you’re effin whistle.’
Si: ‘Can’t mate. But don’t show anyone your lines. And eat the tape of this conversation. No one will ever know.’
Daz: ‘But we don’t do tape anymore. You asking me to eat the actual computer?’

I’ve written this for a laugh, but it’s not a million miles from the truth, and what on earth does the VAR assistant do /get paid for? You’d think it would be to occasionally intervene to stop the main guy looking like an idiot.
They talk about ‘clear and obvious’ errors. The ref saw the Curtis Jones challenge. ‘Daz’ in his box decides he wants Jones off and finds the best still picture to prove his point. Obviously not played a game of football in his life, at least at a decent level. His foot, slightly out of control, played the ball which deflected his foot upwards and onto the opposition player’s shin. The ref is shown the most awful picture, and is being lead along the path the VAR man has previously decided.
I’ll not moan too much about the Diogo Jota red card. It was an error by Hooper for the first yellow. Human error I can deal with. Jota’s next challenge was ridiculous, and worries me. Least said.

So, what do we all feel about VAR now?

Personally, I think it’s a given for black and white decisions where there is no room for personal opinion, and simply a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. Did the ball cross the line? Did it go out?

Offside should be one of these. Worryingly, we have the technology to do this, and PGMOL decided against it. SOAT (semi-automated offside technology) is available. It uses data points in the players and the ball, and has numerous cameras to make an AI decision. Sounds fine. So why do we need Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee in VAR box watching the game?

Personally I quite like the idea of VAR. Getting the decisions right more of the time is surely a good idea. However, we need to get rid of VAR ‘opinions’ when we know that decision making in football can never be perfect. If a ref is called to the screen, he must be shown the incident at full speed first and must have the balls to stand by his original decision. Offside should be simple; Use SOAT if needed, and if it’s very close, like in the old days, advantage goes to the attacker. And let’s have some transparency. Like rugby and cricket, surely we have the right to hear any discussion?
I still think VAR CAN succeed. Do you?

Thoughts welcomed folks…

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