PREM chiefs were given a VAR kicking by football’s law-makers.
Lukas Brud, general secretary of the International FA Board, insists VAR calls on offsides should not be “too forensic” and used only to reverse “clear and obvious” mistakes.
Prem ref boss Mike Riley has been accused of ignoring guidelines on VARCredit: PA:Press Association
He accused Prem refs’ boss Mike Riley of ignoring Ifab guidelines, which will be reissued in the new year.
The weekend saw five controversial offside VAR calls which ruled out goals for Wolves, Crystal Palace, Norwich, Brighton and Sheffield United.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo was left baffled by the decision to annul Pedro Neto’s “equaliser” at Liverpool for a toenail call against Jonny.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called VAR “a big mess” and yesterday Brud declared: “Clear and obvious still remains — it’s an important principle.
“There should not be a lot of time spent trying to find something marginal.
“If something is not clear on the first sight then it’s not obvious and shouldn’t be considered.
“Looking at 15 camera angles, trying to find something that was potentially not even there, this was NOT the idea of the VAR principle.
“If you spend multiple minutes trying to identify whether it is offside or not then it’s not clear and obvious and the original decision should stand.
“This is the problem — people are trying to be too forensic. We are just trying to get rid of the clear and obvious mistakes.
“We will be communicating to all competitions using VAR because we are observing developments that are not the way they should be and we may need to readjust.”
Prem chiefs have insisted they are following Ifab protocols and announced at the start of the season that offside was viewed as a black-and-white issue using the 3D technology available.
So Brud’s intervention will anger them and also flies in the face of directives from Fifa and Uefa.
Fifa refs’ chief Pierluigi Collina, a champion of using technology, declared: “There are not big offsides and small offsides. There are only offsides.”
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been handed responsibility for leading the Fifa side on any proposed law changes.
The weekend decisions mean 22 Prem “goals” have been chalked off for offside so far this season.
Wolves were furious at the decision that went against them at Anfield, with skipper Conor Coady claiming “ridiculous” VAR is “killing” the game.
Yet Rangers have again called for the system to be used in Scotland.
Managing director Stewart Robertson said: “We believe that the introduction of VAR would help referees enormously and reduce the number of wrong decisions.”
Premier League refs stunned after chief Mike Riley says he’s ‘well pleased with how VAR is operating’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
