VAR and technology in football.

Football (soccer) is a strange mistress. It is excellent entertainment but it can get a little emotional at times - and not always in a good way.
VAR is the latest in a tranche of technological updates that are arriving at the higher levels of the sport.
But why? Perceived injustices are one of the enduring and endearing staples of fandom.
Cups and trophies can be won or lost by a judgement or decision by an official who may be under enormous pressure. It has always been so. That is sport. And for many fans it is a part of the drama and the fascination.
And... had there been VAR and goal-line technology in 1966, West Germany might have had even more World Cups... but that in itself is not the reason we should go back to the whistle and the human eye.
I am right.
VAR is the latest in a tranche of technological updates that are arriving at the higher levels of the sport.
But why? Perceived injustices are one of the enduring and endearing staples of fandom.
Cups and trophies can be won or lost by a judgement or decision by an official who may be under enormous pressure. It has always been so. That is sport. And for many fans it is a part of the drama and the fascination.
And... had there been VAR and goal-line technology in 1966, West Germany might have had even more World Cups... but that in itself is not the reason we should go back to the whistle and the human eye.
I am right.
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Alan Shearer's opinion today seems to be that if it can only reduce the number of disputed decisions by 90%, not 100%, then it is a complete waste of time.
If one of the main things that sustains interest in a sport is the officials making mistakes, then I'd argue that's not a compelling sport.
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
It never ceases to amaze me just how one-eyed the fans are. Any, and I mean ANY, decision against their team brings a torrent of abuse against the ref. I'm sure they can't all believe it but in the moment it really seems they do.
Will VAR change that? I don't think so.
I am not sure. You have no chance.
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #3s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
Is that how it went? in which case, it worked perfectly. Correct decision either way IMO. Isn't that the point?
I am not sure. You have no chance.
And therein lies the problem of football (boring game) - no-one agrees what the rules actually are!
(From having watched it on BBC website, to me it looks like Willian deliberately fails to step over an outstretched leg. Whether that is "diving" or not, and whether the other player is to blame for his leg being there in the first place or not I don't know - as I say, football generally bores me, but I am interested in the VAR stuff!)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #3s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
I prefer an element of doubt about certain decisions. I enjoy (usually) the partisan response on the terraces - or in today's seated stadia - to any blowing of the whistle or failure to blow the whistle. I quite like the theatrical indignation of card recipients. I have no idea why anyone would want that to and...
People argue that there is now so much money in the game that there is a lot riding on every decision. To me that makes no sense... How can a bigger purse make it more important to make the correct call? The unpredictability of the game is one of many reasons it fascinates....
As ever, I am right.
As can be seen from today, VAR may correct some obvious decisions but it will not kill off debate.
I am not sure. You have no chance.