- Jul 7, 2012
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The ref couldn't have just blown it up. It's not in the laws of the game. Before this year, even when the ball actually touched the referee, the referee couldn't stop play. The ref was considered part of the field, and so, even if the ball went off the ref straight into the goal, the goal stood. Not saying the refs positioning was great this time, but nothing the ref or VAR could do here.
Personally, I think VAR shouldn't review offside. Should be treated as fouls are: referee decisions. If a few offside decisions are missed, we'd all just get on with it, just like we do with perceived fouls. Not saying we'd always be happy with all decisions, but that's football ffs. Add to that the fact that we don't have the technology to see the exact point where the player first made contact with the ball to pass it, so the decision on the offside itself is flawed from the first.
In any case, offside should be judged on the position of the feet, none of this armpit nonsense. That would make it so much clearer for referees, for VAR and every other person involved on the game to understand.
I think common sense wouldn't have gone amiss there, it was obvious the ref impeeded the play and should have been called back for a drop ball.