The beautiful game is getting bogged down by technology. As the Premier League prepares for its annual general meeting (AGM) today, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system is under intense scrutiny. Fans and clubs, are fuming over delays, inconsistencies, and a general feeling that VAR is spoiling the enjoyment of football.
Things have got so bad that Wolverhampton Wanderers have proposed scrapping VAR entirely. They argue that the constant stoppages and overturning of on-field decisions are disrupting the flow of the game and turning passionate fans into frustrated spectators.
The Premier League, however, isn’t ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead, they’re expected to unveil a “video refereeing improvement plan” at the AGM. This plan has two main components:
Faster Offsides: They’re bringing in semi-automatic offside technology to speed things up. This should mean less time spent agonizing over those agonisingly close calls.
Respecting the Referees: The much-debated “clear and obvious” threshold for overturning decisions is getting a makeover. In its place, they’ll be using the term “referee’s call.” This means on-field decisions will only be overturned if they’re demonstrably wrong.
The hope is that these changes will make VAR less disruptive and restore some trust in the system. They’re also trying to address the fan experience. By giving more weight to the referee’s initial call, the league hopes to maintain some of the natural flow and excitement of the game.
Todays meeting will be a critical test for the Premier League. Can they find a way to fix VAR or will they be forced to consider a more drastic solution like Wolves’ proposal? But one thing’s for sure: the beautiful game needs a fix, and fast.
Why is it every time the other side score we all look at the screen to see if VAR will get involved , perhaps we are hoping they will?
Sounds like the words “Clear and Obvious” has just been replaced with “Demonstrably Wrong”.
Just keep the goal line technology. Otherwise arguments over penalty decisions will continue……and the offsides will continue to be farcical.
The handball ruling needs to go back to whether it was deliberate or not. Hand to ball, as it was for decades. Handball is currently given when the ball hits an arm at point blank range, for example……and that’s never been right.
Offside was fine for years too, until they meddled with it. Everyone understood it and not too many complained.
Funny. I don’t remember them asking what I.thought. or.any other fans come to.that.
Anyone.would think.they don’t care what we think. How strange is that.
One thing that really annoys me is when the VAR team go back several stages to try and find anything to cancel out a goal. So if there wasn’t an accidental handball, was there an offfside or was there a foul – god damn it – there MUST be some way we can cancel out the goal!
Just scrap it. All we’re doing is blaming 3 or 4 blokes in a hut instead of one ref on the pitch. And still getting errors
“semi-automatic offside technology” needs to have the threshold increased from the current “offside toenail” or it will be another VAR disaster.
Just have VAR look at what actually happened. We don’t need to be interested in what sort of mistake the ref might have made, what actually happened does not change due to the type of mistake that the ref makes.
VAR get so many decisions wrong clear goals being marked off by a players toe is in front of a defender total joke don’t even get me started on offsides and strange decisions that only the referee on var can see and 9times out of ten they are wrong a apology for a wrong decision doesn’t make up for a good goal not being given the loss of points etc I would without any hesitation scrap var it clearly doesn’t work
No change then! And they will introduce a few more ludicrous rules, dreamt up by some half wit on his gaming console.
Myself, and many others will still support the “4 linesmen & 2Refs system” with the Senior Ref having the final say. It just needs someone with a bit of clout to get it rolling. Perhaps its time for a NPLSA (National Premier League Supporters Association)
COYI !!!
It’s in the wording ‘clear and obvious’ if a decision can’t be made within 2-3 mins then it’s not clear and obvious.