VAR Discussion Thread | 2024/25

[Pingu the Penguin]

Well it was used at the last world cup 2 years ago and in the Champions League since and don't remember any controversy. Why the PL decided to ignore this system completely is frankly bizarre!!

Anything that speeds things up and standardises things is ok with me....but understanding how accurate it is would surely be the first question?

 

[halfcenturyup]

Anything that speeds things up and standardises things is ok with me....but understanding how accurate it is would surely be the first question?

It takes out the human element of selecting the frame used for ball release and for drawing lines which you would think would remove errors, but the system still works on 50 fps and so at speed there will still be a margin for error.

They claim they can interpolate the timing of ball release and player position from two inconclusive frames but I very much doubt the first and can say there are so many variables involved with the second that it will be impossible (tbf to FIFA, nit UEFA, the inertia sensor used is 500 fps I think to "solve" the first but it doesn't help with the second). Still they will have nice reconstituted graphics which they hope will convince football fans the system is accurate. I'm not buying it.

I also have questions about the player data collection. I thought the system constantly collected 29 data points individually for each player, so they can place players' position "exactly" at any time. The balls-up in Holland blew that theory out of the water, when they placed the defenders leg on the attackers body and said he was offside.

What they are hoping is that people will see the nice graphics and assume the system is accurate. Don't fall for it.

 

[stonerblue]

What the fuck is the game coming to when fans think stopping to watch cartoons or some bloke with his finger in his ear telling the crowd why he's given a decision will be an 'improvement'?

 

[Bigga]

Never get sucked into a convo with him on any thread, he talks complete bollocks

Shame you're dense as fuck.

Not your fault, you can't help it.

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

It takes out the human element of selecting the frame used for ball release and for drawing lines which you would think would remove errors, but the system still works on 50 fps and so at speed there will still be a margin for error.

They claim they can interpolate the timing of ball release and player position from two inconclusive frames but I very much doubt the first and can say there are so many variables involved with the second that it will be impossible (tbf to FIFA, nit UEFA, the inertia sensor used is 500 fps I think to "solve" the first but it doesn't help with the second). Still they will have nice reconstituted graphics which they hope will convince football fans the system is accurate. I'm not buying it.

I also have questions about the player data collection. I thought the system constantly collected 29 data points individually for each player, so they can place players' position "exactly" at any time. The balls-up in Holland blew that theory out of the water, when they placed the defenders leg on the attackers body and said he was offside.

What they are hoping is that people will see the nice graphics and assume the system is accurate. Don't fall for it.

Got to say that is always my instinct when the margin for error data isn’t transparent

 

[TheBeautifulGame]

What the fuck is the game coming to when fans think stopping to watch cartoons or some bloke with his finger in his ear telling the crowd why he's given a decision will be an 'improvement'?

And it really needs to be treated with more of a sense of urgency from the fans and all involved with the sport. They've really stepped in it with VAR and the announcement to add on to it with referee speeches as a "test run" in its own tournament. And then on the other side of the coin we have to hear about how semi-automated didn't make it in because they needed more time to do thorough testing before implementing as if that's supposed to be reassuring while they just make all kinds of changes to VAR mid-season with unsatisfactory results. While I understand some fans desire to have referees make better decisions, on the other hand I do believe they've been sold on VAR and have chosen to go down that rabbit hole wherever it may lead. But many fans all over the world know this whole ordeal is wrong and would like to see football returned to normal in any way possible. If that means transitioning to a challenge system, if that's what it takes, I'm all for it, just to get us away from VAR and take a new approach. Becuase, lets face it, this whole VAR experiment has not been successful, it has not been embraced by the fans but fans have no choice but to tolerate it despite their objection to it. But therein lies the problem, the fans really do have the power as they are the paying customer. But up to this point the fans love of football is more than their dislike of VAR, but it's reaching a breaking point. Even FIFA by now I think realizes that VAR is not going the way they would like, which is why they are brainstorming a challenge system. I am merely trying to help the FIFA guys behind VAR save their legacy and am throwing them a life ring with a challenge system, as an "Off-Ramp" for their failed system of VAR. What I would say to the FIFA guys is, look, we tried VAR, for year after year after year and we're looking for something better for football. If a challenge system is what you need to cement your legacy then by all means but have the decency to admit VAR didn't work and just move on to something better. The fans will appreciate if you replace VAR with something better. And to the Premier League higher ups, Webb and the like I would say, look, we get it, the FIFA guys were spoon feeding you VAR and you said OK we'll use it but only if we do it our way.

But look, water under the Bridge, but do the right thing now. Please, for football. We really can't continue with VAR any longer. I don't know about you guys but with VAR it feels like we're being pushed down a rabbit hole against our will and I'm actually trying to escape it and look for solutions. But to your point, when you have people trying to drag us down this VAR rabbit hole with an embracing of referee speeches to explain VAR decisions, if I wanted to hear referees talk to me I would watch the American NFL, but that also has tons of problems maybe even more problems than football, but the point is, we are falling deeper down this hole and I really want to come out of the VAR way of doing things and just really get football back to normal. What happened last season was Wolves was incredible (not good incredible) when all the clubs voted for VAR to stay. That decision and how unanimously against Wolves it was really hit the fans hard. Because the fans had hope that it would be a close vote. But the iron boot of the Premier League higher ups really schemed behind the scenes to ensure Wolves were soundly defeated. But Wolves has earned a place in all fans hearts due to their standing up for traditional football. They will always be remembered for that courage, but it is time that the VAR charade starts to wind down as we look to replace. Grass roots football must return, and more of that as well, but or now it doesn't instill confidence what taht vote against Wolves for VAR to stay did. And now FIFA is looking at a challenge system. Well there is your off ramp FIFA, and the Premier League higher ups Webbs of the world you must not take use deeper into this dark dark cave of VAR and more VAR. VAR has had enough time to prove itself and show us what it is and we know what it is and we don't like it, now maybe a challenge system would be easier to embrace than VAR as long as it is very limited in its uses but broad in the scope of what you can challenge and really just do it right this time. The desire to return football to normal should be at the forefront and with a viable alternative there needs to be a concerted effect to put VAR out to pasture once and for all and really usher in a new age of football enlightenment out of the obscurity and confusion of the VAR era.