People keep talking about the downside of VAR that it ruins the moment for the fans - but I don't feel it ruined Llorente's moment for me and then of course...the offside. Here we have a new twist that football can throw up. We were down, out, the entire pub I was in was slouched back in their seats, resigned to defeat, and suddenly, a glimmer of hope. And then when the result came back as disallowed, we all celebrated like it was us that had scored the last minute winner.
Good chance that without VAR then Llorente's gets disallowed and that Aguero's offside is missed. It does make you wonder what could have been if it had always been around when we think about the times when we really could have used it - the Dabizas handball, the foul on Sheringham in the last minute of the final in 2002, the Balotelli stamp, that Chelsea goal that never crossed the line in the semi etc. So good that there's finally some justice in the world, and that it's come against a team who's entire presence at the top table is literally defined by cheating.
It gave itself a massive boost tonight....that's exactly why it's been brought in.
2. Sterling 'goal' - Lino kept flag down as per instructions about letting play go on, then ref got the word to check it... so decision may have stood anyway.
Only thing spoiling that theory is we don't know for sure if the Lino did see it and do that, or if the VAR room were the ones who did that...
People watching on TV have commentators, pundits, replays and stats shown throughout the game regardless of VAR. They are always going to have more information than those in the stadium.It ruins it for people in the stadium because we aren’t informed about what’s happening. Why should people watching it on tv have more information that those sitting in the ground. It needs to be shown on the big screen.
It will be interesting to see if VAR benefits the lower teams more than the "elite".
So many times this season decisions have gone against lower positioned clubs when they play one of the top four, particularly offside goals being scored against them.
Perhaps technology will come to the aid of these "making up the numbers" clubs who are normally involved in relegation battles and are deeply affected by such situations.
The only time VAR can truly be objective is when it comes to offsides. You’re either off or your not. When it comes to everything else it’s up the the refs interpretation of the laws of the game.It should make it a level playing field even if still flawed. Someone said decisions depend on which official watching the video screen. VAR would've given us a pen v city - but only if called on. Again a refs decision. VR could still favour bigger clubs tho.
Brilliant invention.
I remember when I called for - what I then called - video reffing several years I was blasted, roasted, criticized etc. etc. and there were so many opinions of why it wouldn't work/be practical. Finally people are "tuning into" what a great idea it was to introduce VAR and that it's come to stay.
NEXT: effective playing time rather adding extra-time. Have time-keeper like they do in team handball, basketball, ice hockey, where they have various rules regarding when the game-watch should be stopped and when to re-start it again. This will counter-act time-wasting.
Let there be 2 halves 35 minutes of effective playing time.
I remember when I called for - what I then called - video refereeing several years ago I was blasted, roasted, criticized etc. etc. and there were so many various opinions of why it wouldn't work/be practical. Finally people are "tuning into" what a great idea it was to introduce VAR and that it's come to stay.
NEXT: effective playing time rather adding extra-time. Have time-keeper like they do in team handball, basketball, ice hockey, where they have various rules regarding when the game-watch should be stopped and when to re-start it again. This will counter-act time-wasting.
Let there be 2 halves 35 minutes of effective playing time.