In theory VAR should clear up any anomalies that are missed in the cut and thrust of the game. Where it falls down for me, is it is not being interpreted consistently.
Players acting skills have never been as much of an issue since the Italians in the 90’s! They’ve now got to have a face for camera! Not a fan of what VAR is doing to the game!
VAR is repeatedly giving correct decisions where it is used. What is needed is for FIFA to clearly lay out some rules for consistency in its use and to punish players for protesting about it. It's unbelievable that players are still creating mayhem even after VAR has been used and shown them to be culpable like in the case of the Nigeria penalty last night. Rugby players accept VAR decisions and get on with it. The absolute bane of the game has become the massive cheating going on; diving, wrestling players at set pieces, trying to intimidate the referees. There was a case the other night where two players from opposing teams went into a tackle and both dived simultaneously without any contact whatsoever. VAR might at least remove some of the incentive to dive eventually, especially in the area and especially if the revealed dive is backed up by a booking. The number of penalties in this tournament isn't ideal but I'd rather suffer a rash of spot kicks short term in an effort to get rid of some of the cheating.
That’s goal line technology and completely different. Don’t think anybody is arguing about the use of that technology.
I think football as a whole need to decide HOW to use it. If the people upstairs in the var room deem there was something to look at ....then the ref must do that....in rugby you have the two parties talking to each other and agreeing on the outcome (albeit the ref has the final say) but there are recommends. Unfortunately due to the obscene amounts of money in footy we need to embrace the extra help to clear up certain decisions....if that means we have to wait a whole 30 to 60 seconds to get the correct outcome then so be it. I would actually go further and have a committee to sit on in the major points ...the day after and apply their conclusions...for say harsh bookings...play acting (pepe) and so forth. Technology is here to stay...the game is too technical and fast for the old ref to get 100% of the decisions right. Our problem at the moment is that this is in its infancy and some of the refs seem be implementing their own version and protecting the star players. I have to say var (to me) seems to have been correct in most incidents (not all).
I think football as a whole need to decide HOW to use it. If the people upstairs in the var room deem there was something to look at ....then the ref must do that....in rugby you have the two parties talking to each other and agreeing on the outcome (albeit the ref has the final say) but there are recommends. Unfortunately due to the obscene amounts of money in footy we need to embrace the extra help to clear up certain decisions....if that means we have to wait a whole 30 to 60 seconds to get the correct outcome then so be it. I would actually go further and have a committee to sit on in the major points ...the day after and apply their conclusions...for say harsh bookings...play acting (pepe) and so forth. Technology is here to stay...the game is too technical and fast for the old ref to get 100% of the decisions right. Our problem at the moment is that this is in its infancy and some of the refs seem be implementing their own version and protecting the star players. I have to say var (to me) seems to have been correct in most incidents (not all).
I think it’s great but it just needs to be used better, we have a situation where Real Madrid for example have won 3 consecutive champions leagues but if VAR would’ve been used they wouldn’t have won any. That’s how much of an impact incorrect decisions make. That was a perfect example of it been used properly in the German game