I agree largely with
@.db.'s comments above. Taylor is a good referee. I agree with lots of what he says. I would like to hear referee opinions about certain decisions at the time of them being made (Chelsea game), but we aren't allowed to question referees like that at the moment. At best, we get PGMOL making ridiculous excuses for their significant errors (Rashford not interfering).
This was interesting at the end: "The whole focus is trying to make sure that we get to have two refereeing teams at the World Cup next year in America."
Focus on refereeing games correctly, avoid controversy, and the rest will fall into place.
So we have high expectations of VAR. I think our expectations were based on how the authorities sold it to us. Instead, we see it as a tool for favouring certain clubs.
Mourinho should have had a much harsher penalty.
I totally agree about the situation in grass roots football. I've been there and been subject to that abuse myself, including threats of violence against me. The lack of respect there filters down from the professional game, and the authorities have to take a large portion of responsibility for this for their reluctance to clamp down on disrespecting of referees. Referees need to look at themselves. The top referees talk about game management. This is just a byword for relaxed standards.
Clamp down on dissent with proper sanctions - yellow cards in all cases, red cards for all repeat offences. This is how this dreadful blight on our game should be tackled, and give referees the respect they deserve, as in rugby.
