red_harrington
Well-known member
I think we all agree it's not working properly as it's affecting the flow and enjoyment of the game with dubious decisions, mostly with regards to the offside rule. So I hereby make the following suggestion as a means to improvement:
When VAR flags offside, the referee asks himself the following question: 'Was the infraction enough to significantly alter the course of the game?'
The referee makes these kind of decisions all the time anyway with regards to physical contact. Too much or inappropriate contact and a foul is awarded. Not enough - play on. The referee alone decides whether or not the level of physical altercation is enough to blow the whistle or not.
The same can be applied to offside.
The current standing is that if the player's nose was 1mm offside, a goal wouldn't count, which is the letter of the law. My suggestion is that it's for the referee to decide whether or not the players nose being 1mm offside "significantly altered the course of the game". As such, the ref would - quite sensibly - probably deny that it was, and would let the goal stand.
Without the discretion of the referee to decide events like these, the game is turning into a farce, infuriating players and fans alike. I understand that the referee at times will use his discretion and get it 'wrong' but that will always be the case - the point here is that VAR should be a tool for him to see the bigger picture on a human level that understands the game, rather than a robot that makes a black and white decision for him.
When VAR flags offside, the referee asks himself the following question: 'Was the infraction enough to significantly alter the course of the game?'
The referee makes these kind of decisions all the time anyway with regards to physical contact. Too much or inappropriate contact and a foul is awarded. Not enough - play on. The referee alone decides whether or not the level of physical altercation is enough to blow the whistle or not.
The same can be applied to offside.
The current standing is that if the player's nose was 1mm offside, a goal wouldn't count, which is the letter of the law. My suggestion is that it's for the referee to decide whether or not the players nose being 1mm offside "significantly altered the course of the game". As such, the ref would - quite sensibly - probably deny that it was, and would let the goal stand.
Without the discretion of the referee to decide events like these, the game is turning into a farce, infuriating players and fans alike. I understand that the referee at times will use his discretion and get it 'wrong' but that will always be the case - the point here is that VAR should be a tool for him to see the bigger picture on a human level that understands the game, rather than a robot that makes a black and white decision for him.