VAR

CRISTIAN ROMERO was extremely lucky not to be sent off against Newcastle.The Tottenham defender’s second-half challenge endangered the safety of Callum Wilson with excessive force.
Cristian Romero challenge on Callum Wilson
“I don’t think he’ll learn. I think it’s in him. Some players you can’t tame them. He’s one of those”The Super Sunday panel discuss Cristian Romero’s yellow card 🟨 pic.twitter.com/x6opwq33gx— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 10, 2023

I wouldn’t blame referee Chris Kavanagh for showing a yellow card as Ben Davies appeared to block his viewing angle.
But Romero, just back from a ban, went over the top, caught Wilson twice and this was a case for VAR intervention and a red card.
Brentford’s Frank Onyeka and Jacob Brown of Luton should have also been red-carded this weekend for similar challenges which went unpunished.
We need to eradicate them from the game because a player will get seriously injured if we continue to allow them.
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Romero has just returned from a three-game ban for a straight red card earlier this season.
So that means, had he received the same punishment on the pitch this time he would have picked up a four-game suspension.
Most fans were incredulous at what seemed his fierce follow-through on Wilson’s ankle did not lead to his instant dismissal in Spurs’ 4-1 win.
One viewer hit out: “How is that not a red? Wtf!”
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Jacob Brown’s tackle could have seriously hurt Man City star Phil FodenCredit: Rex
Frank Onyeka stayed on despite this challenge on Sheffield United’s Vini SouzaCredit: Reuters
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Another argued: “Red card definitely. Looking at similar situations this is obvious. Have some consistency for once.”
A third fan suggested some officials are hesitant to dish out straight reds – because of video replays.
He wrote: “The referee gave a yellow cos he knows he has VAR to fall back on! This has been the referee mentality since VAR has came in! They don’t make the decisions and wait for VAR!”
Many observers reckon Romero is a “beast” – but opinion is split on whether he can, or should, be controlled.
One claimed: “He might not be the same player if you tame him.”
Another fan made a similar point: “Romero’s style might be untameable, an innate part of his game.”
But this post summed up the alternative thinking: “He’s a beast, but he needs to chill. Too many cards, too many fouls.” More

FOOTBALL fans reckon Liverpool are getting the rub of the green with VAR ever since their controversial defeat to Tottenham.That’s after Virgil van Dijk escaped giving away a penalty at Crystal Palace due to a foul in the build-up.
Some fans reckon Liverpool are getting VAR decisions ever since their defeat to SpursCredit: Alamy
Virgil van Dijk gave away a penalty before VAR intervenedCredit: PA
The penalty was eventually ruled out for a foul on Wataru Endo earlier in the build-upCredit: TNT
VAR made the huge call during Saturday’s Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
Van Dijk was penalised for a foul in Liverpool’s box on Palace striker Odsonne Edouard.
The Dutchman looked distraught as referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot.
However, the official was instructed by VAR to check the pitch-side monitor as there may have been a foul on a Liverpool player in the build-up.
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Wataru Endo collided with Will Hughes earlier on, conceding possession which eventually resulted in Palace’s penalty.
But VAR and Madley agreed it was a pertinent issue in play.
And to the jeers of the Selhurst Park crowd, the penalty was overturned.
Fans at home were certainly unimpressed, with many feeling that Liverpool have been getting most VAR calls ever since a shocking call went against them in September’s defeat at Spurs.
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Luis Diaz’s perfectly legal goal was ruled out for offside as the Reds lost 2-1 while also having two players sent off.
But some supporters reckon Liverpool are now reaping the benefits.
One said: “Liverpool ever since the Spurs game has had every decision go in favour of them. VAR is a joke.”
Another declared: “Absolutely insane that the on-field call doesn’t stand there. It’s a foul, but the ref didn’t think it was. If that’s most other teams, VAR doesn’t intervene.”
One added: “Ruling that goal out against Spurs is the best thing to ever happen to Liverpool.”
However, VAR did come to the rescue for Palace during the second half.
Jean-Philippe Mateta went down from a foul by Jarell Quansah in the Liverpool box, with Madley initially waving away his concerns.
But VAR had a check and informed the ref that his decision needed checking on the screen.
And after taking a look, Madley reversed the call to give Palace the penalty.
Mateta then slammed home his effort to put the Eagles ahead at Selhurst Park.
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However, goals from Mo Salah and Harvey Elliott helped Liverpool come back to take all three points and take over from Arsenal, who play on Saturday night, at the top of table. More

INTO the rumpus about VAR, a new variant steps.Sin bins have long been of interest, even to an experiment in lower leagues which has been proclaimed a success.
VAR hasn’t improved football, claims SunSport columnist Karren BradyCredit: Rex
Bins have long been acceptable in rugby too and many other sports.
I’m no expert on brutes hurtling into each other at speed but it can be brief entertainment amid the endless gaps for head injuries and checking what a pitchside telly made of things.
No, not wrestling, I mean Sir Clive Woodward’s sport.
Now the International Football Association Board (IFAB, although not so fab after VAR introduction) are declaring serious interest in sin bins.
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It’s temporary ten-minute dismissals for offences like dissent. No wonder when dissent leapt from 174 offenders to 345 in our pro game last season.
It’s a blight but it’d be useful to know how many offences occurred after dubious VAR rulings which have left football feeling like it’s being strangled.
VAR should be limited to offside, goal-line checks . . . and little else.
It’s now a ref’s crutch rather than an aid and games are often decided by VAR stinkers, with Newcastle’s Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain this week the most recent example.
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Changes since the Premier League was founded in 1992 are prodigious and mostly positive but include VAR.
Sir Bobby Charlton and Terry Venables, both of whom died this autumn, were not much involved in the Prem as it grew from its infancy.
It became rich and influential and, as a player and manager, Venables in particular must have been envious of rewards in the latter years of his 80.
Twice capped by England, he was a good enough midfielder to bank more than £100,00-a-week these days.
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Brady would limit VAR’s involvement to basic checksCredit: Getty
A clever and admired man, his CV included a LaLiga title with Barcelona, an FA Cup with Tottenham and numerous promotions, so he’d have regarded £100,000 as penny-pinching.
Charlton was a football great as good as George Best in a Manchester United forward line that also boasted another exciting player in Denis Law.
I doubt there has ever been a better front three anywhere but English football then wasn’t rich enough to compete with foreign big shots for stars.
It is different today in a world where you can bring in  players from, say, South Korea to North Macedonia.
It was the Prem who supercharged the change and now their squads  are only 30 per cent British on average.
But Scottish players are nearly as rare as 100 per cent proof whisky.
Not all changes are for the best, though, and although the temptation to cheat has always existed, VAR appears to have encouraged players to take penalty area dives and fake head injuries in order to waste time.
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But better coaching has heightened entertainment and helped attract capacity crowds to 95 per cent of games and a massive overflow on television.
Once regarded as the enemy at the gate, TV is now beloved as publisher and paymaster. More