AuthorJeffEyesRimmer The recent Confederations Cup won by Germany trialled the use of the video assistant referee system (VAR) to varying degrees of success. The VAR system was supposed to provide ‘minimum interference, maximum benefit’ to the tournament and - if successful - football as a whole. Unfortunately, it generated more questions than answers even if the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, said that it had been a “great success”. The Confederations Cup final with Germany versus Chile had the perfect example of the VAR system failing. Gonzalo Jara threw an elbow into Timo Werner’s face, so the referee Milorad Mazic consulted the VAR. Despite this technological assistance, and after a four-minute delay, he still got the decision wrong and issued only a yellow card.
The funny thing is that other sports prove that VAR can be used correctly - just look at the retrospective use of rugby’s system in the recent British Lions vs New Zealand test. Sonny Bill Williams was issued a red card for a shoulder charge to the head of Anthony Watson which was picked up by the VAR. It can work and the technology is most definitely there. Unfortunately, the VAR system used at the Confederations Cup too often left the referee on the field, the players and the fans in the dark for long periods of time during the matches. This is exactly the reason why so many people were and are against VAR (including my fellow Outcast). It disrupts the game too much and slows the game down - the speed of football and its counter attacking possibilities are one of the main reasons it’s the world’s most popular and well-loved game. Disrupting that will turn fans away. However, the main issue I have with VAR is that very few refereeing decisions in football are black and white, it’s subjective and that issue was on show in the Confederations Cup. It not like rugby or cricket where they can watch something back in the break in play to ensure the correct decision was made, there are opportunities in those games and they had definitive answers on the rules given. The problem is how many times do we watch the various, multi-angled replays of an incident in football and still not be sure if the player dived or if it was ball to hand or the tackle was from behind? Pundits in studios are often found to be conflicted with their interpretations of the games rules and that’s where the main issue lies. The VAR referee could have a totally different view to the on field ref. The handball rule is a good example – its handball when the ball strikes the hand in an unnatural position. What is an unnatural position? It’s a judgement call. What is the definition of excessive force in a tackle? It’s a judgement call. These are the sorts of decisions that shouldn’t be given to the VAR to make a call on. So this then leads to the question – what can VAR be used for? Goal line technology is where VAR could be used and the correct decision is clear on camera, although we already have the sensor in the ball that works pretty well I think. Offside’s are a good example and this sort of technology that has been used in recent international friendlies. In the France vs Spain match back in March, France had a goal correctly ruled offside when it was deferred to the VAR which showed Layvin Kurzawa had been in an offside position for Antoine Griezmann’s headed goal. Later in that game Spain has a goal ruled offside only for Gerard Deulofeu’s strike to be referred upstairs and correctly ruled to be a goal. Spain won the game 2-0, which if VAR hadn’t been used it would have been 1-1. If that was in a World Cup qualifier those 2 points dropped by Spain or 1 point gained by France could change the dynamics of a group. It could mean a team going to a World Cup or staying at home, so there is merit in using VAR for offsides. I also think that it could be used for penalty decisions that are awarded too, either to show it was a penalty or a dive. This won’t take much time out of the game either as the usual time breaks when a penalty is awarded due to players complaining/celebrating wastes plenty of time anyway. I make a point that it should be used for penalties that have been awarded, not for ones that the referee on the field has already waved away, too late then and would disrupt the flow of the game. It’s not like technology hasn’t improved the game over the years too. Whistles were once a technological advancement for the game. Before whistles referees used handkerchiefs to signify non-adherence to the rules. I for one would love to see Mike Dean waving a hanky for a penalty - hilarious! The actual playing equipment like the boots, balls and kit have all improved to make the game faster as well. The use of a sensor in the ball for goal line decisions has been a great introduction too. The use of fitness sensors on players too, most of us won’t admit it but we secretly love that heat map showing the effort our players have been putting in. The game slowly changes and evolves and the use of technology will be key to keeping the game up to date in our technological switched on lifestyle. Regardless for all of this though it also comes down to simple economics. There is too much money in football nowadays for owners and corporations to allow simple mistakes that can be easily corrected by using VAR to continue. Put simply, a billionaire owner would make quite the fuss if it cost him millions of pounds of prize money and/or sponsorship money because a goal was not correctly ruled offside and his/her side crashed out of the cup. Money makes the world go round after all. The reality of this all is that VAR will eventually be used but it is the implementation of the technology that is important. At the moment that is failing. There is plenty of optimism around the VAR system and the problems experienced shouldn’t put a damper on the use of technology. I for one believe the use of technology in certain scenarios is needed and I welcome it. However, if FIFA want to ensure that VAR cuts out the ‘headline mistakes and scandals’ which if the Confederations taught us anything it’s that more work needs to be done with the referees, players and fans for the VAR system to work and be a success. |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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