Premier League clubs to vote on scrapping VAR

[Geez]

Premier League clubs will vote on whether to scrap video assistant referees (VAR) from next season at their annual general meeting next month.

Wolves have formally submitted a resolution to the Premier League which will trigger a vote when the 20 member clubs meet in Harrogate on 6 June.

The club said VAR was introduced "in good faith" but has led to "numerous unintended negative consequences that are damaging the relationship between fans and football".

BBC Football 15 May 24

One of the worst things ever to happen to football IMO

 

[mawspurs]

Let's hope common sense prevails.

 

[Chedozie]

I hate VAR

 

[GutBucket]

Worked perfectly at that World Cup, but it's shit in this league for some reason. Maybe it's different rules, refs being mates rather than professionals or something else. Refs still make mistakes even with it, plus we don't get any penalties anyway so we don't have much to lose probably.

 

[Japhet]

The levels of media scrutiny are too high which leads to micro analysis and slow responses. If video footage wasn't available at the grounds or in TV studios there wouldn't be this continual striving for perfect outcomes and there wouldn't be endless reviews of contentious decisions, much like it was pre VAR.

 

[Armstrong_11]

If we removed VAR.... people would then moan over every decision saying VAR might have changed it.

we need to embrace technology, we need to embrace change. IMO... most of the stupid ones are due to human error (i.e. liverpool, or the bayern's disallowed goal)

there is no winning. its just making things "less shit" and we all know... shit happens.

 

[Dennism]

Please get rid of VAR.

 

[mattspur1986]

Can we just get rid of shit officials instead? VAR is great if utilised correctly, as someone mentioned above in the World Cup etc.

 

[Trix]

If we removed VAR.... people would then moan over every decision saying VAR might have changed it.

we need to embrace technology, we need to embrace change. IMO... most of the stupid ones are due to human error (i.e. liverpool, or the bayern's disallowed goal)

there is no winning. its just making things "less shit" and we all know... shit happens.

The biggest financial league in the world needs to bring in those running VAR successfully in other leagues. Fuck the likes of Ellery, Swarbrick and Howard Webb. They aren't fit to implement it.

 

[theShiznit]

Just need to make it independent.
No more refs reffing their mates.

The semi automated off-sides should help next season without the idiots having to draw lines.

 

[KirstyG]

The problem is they have it to us. Even in rubbishy form which means taking it away is actually worse than before because ppl will just say var never would give that etc. rather than “ref is a…..”. It’s been implemented POORLY overall and that’s the problem. Almost feels the rushed it in.

 

[Dr Know]

VAR should be run by AI. It would be more accurate and a lot faster

 

[theShiznit]

You know the people asking to scrap it will be the first to want it back when their team gets a goal ruled out or incorrectly given against them...

And this "high bar" bullshit is basically just a REPS* that needs to go.

*ref ego protection scheme

 

[Gb160]

I think it does add to the game.
But it takes away more than it adds.

That initial rush when your team scores , it was euphoric....and now it's gone. We now wait 3 minutes for some prat in an office miles away to draw coloured lines on the pitch, and they still manage to get it wrong sometimes.

If it were up to me I'd get rid, but my money is on it not going anywhere.

 

[aliyid]

Hopefully common sense prevails. Changes need to be made but those changes are not a getting rid of the whole thing.

What I'd like to see:

• Independent VAR officials with accountability who just work on VAR.
  • None of this one week you're reffing a game, the next you're on VAR rubbish. That approach makes it feel like a punishment to be doing VAR rather than taking pride in them doing a good job on VAR
  • No "oh but Dave's a good guy and I don't want to tell him he's made a mistake"
• Don't stop play for in-game reviews, let it carry on and only call back if a decision needs to be made
• Images and audio up on the big screens when a decision is made to let fans know what's happening and why
• Improve the quality of the cameras used for offside decisions, frame rate and clarity on the images currently is shocking (not sure if the new semi-automated version will improve the moment of pass being made)

 

[jolsnogross]

Bin it.

- It's changing the rules of the game too much, differentiating 'top level' footy from the rest.
- Players play differently and embed it in their behaviour. That'll bleed in to tactics.
- The ref isn't reffing anymore. And has lost authority and purpose.
- Linesmen are almost completely redundant and don't call obvious offsides in real time.
- The game experience is shittier.
- the post-game experience is even worse because of it, with all the coverage and conspiracy horseshit.

Bin the fucking thing.

 

[greaves]

I think the problem with not stopping the game until the review is completed is that fans are still going to be ‘waiting’ on a potential reversal. This inhibits the spontaneity and excitement of the game.

 

[newbie]

do you think you its made refs worse as now they avoid making decisions.

 

[greaves]

do you think you its made refs worse as now they avoid making decisions.

I think so. I felt the same with cricket

 

[greaves]

I think so. I felt the same with cricket

It’s a natural human reaction. Responsibility has been deliberately removed from them (in part). But VAR or not, we are still just left with people.