VAR thread 2022/23

[Paladin]

Given that VAR can’t hear them, how do they influence decisions?

We simply don't know this to be fact.

Here are the VAR practicalities from the current Laws of the Game.

The third one confirms that only authorised persons are allowed into the video population room (VOR).

The fourth practicality confirms that the VAR has full access to all broadcast footage - probably to include commentary. Broadcasters will be well aware of this, and the likes of Neville and Carragher commenting on incidents in order to influence officials is therefore quite possible.

Notice the seventh, final practicality which allows the operators to choose what footage is used. The on field referee can request other footage or angles for a review, but how will he know they exist? He will surely think he is being shown the best footage. This opens itself to corruption from within the VOR, and we saw this in the Llorente decision as recently referenced.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Here are the VAR practicalities from the current Laws of the Game.

The third one confirms that only authorised persons are allowed into the video population room (VOR).

The fourth practicality confirms that the VAR has full access to all broadcast footage - probably to include commentary. Broadcasters will be well aware of this, and the likes of Neville and Carragher commenting on incidents in order to influence officials is therefore quite possible.

Notice the seventh, final practicality which allows the operators to choose what footage is used. The on field referee can request other footage or angles for a review, but how will he know they exist? He will surely think he is being shown the best footage. This opens itself to corruption from within the VOR, and we saw this in the Llorente decision as recently referenced.

It doesn’t say anything about commentary.

 

[inchy14]

Given that VAR can’t hear them, how do they influence decisions?

But we don’t know they can’t hear them, that’s the point.

 

[inchy14]

When people tell lies, they have a motivation for doing so. What possible motivation do you suppose the football authorities could have for insisting there is no outside interference in the VAR room, whilst secretly waiting for Andy Hinchcliffe’s verdict on a decision before they commit themselves?

They’ve told us they don’t alter match reports after submission but that’s been declared as bollocks.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

But we don’t know they can’t hear them, that’s the point.

We don’t know if they do it upside down either.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

But we don’t know they can’t hear them, that’s the point.

ZERO transparency is the issue which only leaves us with circumstantial evidence. So when the likes of Neville or Carragher scream their opinions on Sky and it correlates perfectly with the VAR decision despite most people watching seeing it differently we can only draw our own conclusions.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

ZERO transparency is the issue which only leaves us with circumstantial evidence. So when the likes of Neville or Carragher scream their opinions on Sky and it correlates perfectly with the VAR decision despite most people watching seeing it differently we can only draw our own conclusions.

Indeed. Confirmation bias.

 

[Paladin]

It doesn’t say anything about commentary.

It doesn't. My guess is that it is left in, and that's based on the likes of Carragher and Neville with their frequent influencing comments.

How hard would it be for the law to add that no external pressure should be allowed, including from TV commentary.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

It doesn't. My guess is that it is left in, and that's based on the likes of Carragher and Neville with their frequent influencing comments.

How hard would it be for the law to add that no external pressure should be allowed, including from TV commentary.

Not very. Whatever they add, some people would call it bent anyway.

They could do a documentary about VAR before the start of every season to explain what has changed and how it works.

 

[Paladin]

Not very. Whatever they add, some people would call it bent anyway.

They could do a documentary about VAR before the start of every season to explain what has changed and how it works.

Or after every United game.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Or after every United game.

It’s a conspiracy.

 

[Paladin]

It’s a conspiracy.

Do we still have an agenda thread?

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Do we still have an agenda thread?

Of course. I think it keeps some of us sane by venting.

 

[BlueHammer85]

Wonder if anyone from the VAR brigade will openly reveal that they were in a Knights Templar type organisation to ensure the Top 6 (except Man City) in helping manipulate results - that at times they could wait to ensure a millimetre offside decision is decided by themselves in a large secret room instead of just telling a lino to flag up instead. The powers to be have worked wonders in making Man Utd the most successful side since VAR’s introduction - they must be laughing hysterically how they’ve managed to make Man Utd so successful in recent years and ensuring Man City are confined to the doldrums.

Hopefully all will be revealed and someone will spill - it’s only been 3/4 years now

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Wonder if anyone from the VAR brigade will openly reveal that they were in a Knights Templar type organisation to ensure the Top 6 (except Man City) in helping manipulate results - that at times they could wait to ensure a millimetre offside decision is decided by themselves in a large secret room instead of just telling a lino to flag up instead. The powers to be have worked wonders in making Man Utd the most successful side since VAR’s introduction - they must be laughing hysterically how they’ve managed to make Man Utd so successful in recent years and ensuring Man City are confined to the doldrums.

Hopefully all will be revealed and someone will spill - it’s only been 3/4 years now

Mark Halsey admitted he'd been asked to alter a match report and he was fairly quickly shut down. No doubt reminded of the NDA he signed. The press quickly dropped the story (injunctions from the PiGMOL perhaps?) and it's largely been forgotten about. It SHOULD have been a huge story, but it ended up being a wet fart.

I wonder how many other stories have been quashed? Twattenburg has allegedly been up to all sorts, and indeed his sharp exit from the PL should have set the alarm bells ringing, but again it never really went anywhere.

With all the money swilling around in the PL the lawyers will be all over anyone who hints at an expose, and you can GUARENTEE anyone involved in VAR will be NDA'd up to the eyeballs.

 

[Octavian]

Wonder if anyone from the VAR brigade will openly reveal that they were in a Knights Templar type organisation to ensure the Top 6 (except Man City) in helping manipulate results - that at times they could wait to ensure a millimetre offside decision is decided by themselves in a large secret room instead of just telling a lino to flag up instead. The powers to be have worked wonders in making Man Utd the most successful side since VAR’s introduction - they must be laughing hysterically how they’ve managed to make Man Utd so successful in recent years and ensuring Man City are confined to the doldrums.

Hopefully all will be revealed and someone will spill - it’s only been 3/4 years now

Tbf the only marginal offside in the run in last season was a disallowed Sterling goal vs Liverpool, which would have all but won us the title.

His sleeve was offside.

 

[halfcenturyup]

It’s a conspiracy.

Tbf, it's a little far-fetched to suggest VAR is out to stop City from being champions. As the more "open-minded" on here have pointed out, all fans feel bias against their club.

It isn't far-fetched, however, to suggest that the PL has some strategic objectives to maintain and increase the value of the "product", for example:
- new name occasionally on the trophy
- no one-club dominance over a long period
- close competition in the final few weeks
- most commercially successful clubs at the top of the table
- United and Liverpool in the mix, or at least A mix, at the end of the season
- no red cards in flagship matches unless absolutely necessary.

These all make strategic sense, I guess. Does anyone really think it isn't possible that referees and VAR may be advised to be more or less lenient in interpreting the laws and interpretations on a game-by-game basis to assist the PL with these strategic objectives?

The only way to show that isn't happening is to be completely transparent in the way referees and VAR operate.

 

[SWP's back]

This seem a LOT better than someone in Stockley Park deciding which frame the ball was kicked in.

 

[halfcenturyup]

This seem a LOT better than someone in Stockley Park deciding which frame the ball was kicked in.

Yes, had a dodgy stream last night so only saw it in operation once. Seemed to be fine, at least it removes the human element in ball release and player positions. So it should be consistent.

Would still favour some tolerance, though. No system is perfect and toenails offside still doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the game to me. But yes, an improvement.

Did anyone see how it worked in other games?

 

[KS55]

I also recall the clear statement that VAR do not hear the comms. I think that must be true, as you'd have to utterly stupid to be caught in an out and out lie.

And PIGMOL are well known for their intelligence, perspicacity, insight, judgement and all round expertise.
Carry on.