Both Declan and Tomas were off their usual game.
(Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
Maybe we thought the last word had been spoken on the Tomas Soucek affair with the Hammers star’s red card being overturned yesterday (Mon).
Perhaps it should have been but such is the quality of a piece from Martin Samuel – a Hammers fan by the way – in today’s Daily Mail that I reckon he should get the honour of bringing this to a conclusion.
It’s difficult to not agree with everything the man has to say on the Soucek affair, VAR and technology in general and the utterly absurd – not to mention disgraceful death threats towards Dumb and Dumber.
It would be unfair to tell too much here of what Martin has written and in fairness it’s his column which deserves the hits on this occasion.
But as an example of what he has to say let me give you this as one example and allow you the enjoyment of reading the remainder of the piece for yourselves.
VAR Mason alerted Dean, and Dean inspected the incident on replay. The longer he looked, the likelier travesty would result. And Dean had the longest of looks. When he then showed the red card, Mitrovic tried to intervene on Soucek’s behalf — preposterous given that his overplayed fall was the only reason for this dismissal.
Yet the fact remains that what VAR should have resolved, it actually made worse. Football goes to technology expecting justice and logic, and instead gets a randomiser.
VAR means Video ASSISTANT (to) Referee.
That should mean VAR assists the referee, but all to often it is the other way round.
Dean stood watching the actual incident so why did he need assisting at all!?
What was Dean going to give, in the first place?
Did Dean ask for assistance, or did Mason impose it on him due to his “clear and obvious error”
This man is possibly the only reason to read the Daily Mail.
Personal opinion as I really don’t like this rag, but their sports journos are good.
Agree Neil. Samuel is outstanding