VAR

Subterms

    More stories

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Premier League’s new VAR rules designed to favour strikers… and would have allowed TWENTY offside goals last season

      by

      ATTACKERS will get the benefit of the doubt on VAR offsides this season.But Prem chiefs are clamping down on penalties being given for a slightest touch.
      Premier League attackers will get greater leniency for the tightest offside calls next seasonCredit: Getty
      Sadio Mane’s ruled-out Merseyside derby ‘winner’ would count as a goal next seasonCredit: BT Sport
      Teams have been told spot-kicks will no longer be awarded automatically for contact in the area.
      And Premier League bosses warned if players throw themselves to the ground it will count against them.
      Prem refereeing boss Mike Riley says officials have listened to the biggest complaints of players, managers and fans about the way they use technology in games.
      Now they want to return English football to a full-contact sport, while also ending the infuriating VAR decisions which rule a goal out because a player’s toe is offside.
      Riley said: “We spent a lot of time last season talking to the clubs, players, managers and to fans’ groups, looking at how we can improve refereeing within the context of Premier League football.
      “Some of the things are VAR-related, like marginal offsides, but fundamentally we want the approach to be one that best allows the players to express themselves — allows the Premier League game to flow.
      “It means that the refereeing team of referees and VARs don’t intervene for the trivial offences.”
      COMPETITION: SPOT THE BALL TO WIN A CAR AND CASH

      On offsides, the VAR is still using the thin one-pixel lines to determine the line of offside but will then add the thicker line used by broadcasters.
      If that line covers the thinner one, then the benefit of the doubt will be given to the attacking side — and Riley says that would have seen 20 goals that were disallowed last season stand under the new approach.
      PGMOL bosses concede officials have become too forensic in their use of the VAR, particularly when giving penalties which led to spot-kicks being awarded just because replays have shown even the slightest bit of contact.
      Anthony Martial won one of the most controversial penalties last season in the 9-0 thumping of SouthamptonCredit: Times Newspapers LtdDream Team 2021/22PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON!

      £100,000 in prize money up for grabs
      £50million budget to build your best XI
      Play in Mini Leagues against your mates, colleagues, etc
      Click here to play for FREE
      Dream Team app available through Apple Store and Google Play Store

      Scott Parker says the game is becoming sterile as VAR kills football More

    • 200 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      VAR who gave England penalty against Denmark back on duty for Euro 2020 final against Italy

      by

      THE VAR official who allowed England’s penalty against Denmark to be awarded is back on duty for the Euro 2020 final with Italy.The Three Lions advanced to their first major tournament final since 1966 after Harry Kane’s extra-time winner sealed a 2-1 win over the Danes.
      The VAR referee who upheld England’s penalty will be on duty for the Euro 2020 finalCredit: Alamy
      The Three Lions set up a Wembley showdown with Italy following Harry Kane’s reboundCredit: PA
      The England captain slotted home the rebound from close range after Kasper Schmeichel had initially saved his penalty.
      The spot-kick itself drew controversy over the amount of contact involved from Joakim Maehle that saw Raheem Sterling hit the deck.
      Yet VAR official Pol Van Boekel saw no reason to overturn Danny Makkelie’s on-field decision that England used to claim a historic win.
      And the Dutchman will also be involved on Sunday for the final against Italy to assist German ref Bastian Dankert with the technology.

      ⚽ ENGLAND vs ITALY EURO 2020 FINAL BETTING SPECIAL ⚽

      UEFA did announce that Van Boekel’s compatriot Bjorn Kuipers will be the man in the middle for the Wembley showpiece event.
      Yet it will be the referee working on VAR who will be under scrutiny with reaction to the penalty decision heavily criticised across Europe.
      Top selling Italian sports paper Gazzetta Dello Sport hinted at a conspiracy theory over Sterling being awarded a spot-kick.
      They suggested England had been given help in return for Boris Johnson’s vocal opposition to the failed European Super League.

      Antonio Conte is also a columnist for the paper and taunted England by saying four-time world champs Italy ‘know what it means to play in a final’.
      Meanwhile, bitter Spanish TV presenters slammed Euro 2020 as ‘shameful’ and conditioned for England to win’ in a blazing meltdown.
      And one journalist even claimed Wembley should not have hosted any matches… due to Brexit.
      VAR official Pol Van Boekel did overturn Danny Makkelie’s on-field decision on WednesdayCredit: Getty
      England fans love Phil Foden’s passionate celebration after Harry Kane’s goal with midfielder almost crying with joy More

    • 238 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal icon Arsene Wenger baffled by England penalty and blasts VAR for ‘letting referee down’ in Euro 2020 semi-final

      by

      ARSENE WENGER has blasted VAR for ‘letting the referee down’ during England’s 2-1 win over Denmark last night.The Three Lions were awarded a penalty when Raheem Sterling went down in extra time with the score level at 1-1, with Harry Kane’s subsequent rebound proving to be the winner.
      Arsene Wenger explained his reasoning on beIN SportsCredit: beIN SPORTS
      Raheem Sterling went down under contactCredit: Alamy
      But Wenger, 71, felt that the contact on Sterling was too minimal to be a penalty.
      He said on beIN Sports: “No penalty.
      “And in a moment like that I believe that the VAR… I don’t understand why they don’t ask the referee to have a look at it and have a clear (look).
      “In a moment like that it’s important that the referee is absolutely convinced it’s a penalty.
      “It was not clear enough to say ‘yes it is’.
      “At least he should have had a look on the screen, I don’t know why the VAR didn’t ask him to go.”
      Host Richard Keys then asked if VAR had ‘let Denmark down’.
      To which Wenger replied: “I think that VAR has let the referee down.
      Denmark were furious with the decisionCredit: Getty
      EURO 2020 FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      “Not Denmark. Denmark is a bit unfortunate and I understand it’s difficult for the referee – but he must have a look at it.”
      The Danes were also furious at a laser beam being projected at Kasper Schmeichel’s eyes while the penalty was taken, with Uefa taking action against England.
      And a petition has even been started by angry fans to have the game REPLAYED.
      England will face Italy in Sunday’s final at Wembley, after the Azzurri dispatched Spain on penalties on Tuesday night.

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Fuming Denmark striker Martin Braithwaite blasts England penalty decision More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Liverpool star Thiago reveals he hates ‘modern football’ and it’s lost ‘magic’ after changes made to the game

      by

      SPAIN international Thiago Alcantara has revealed he hates modern football and believes the game has lost it’s magic.The 30-year-old has slammed the introduction of VAR – claiming he’s always been against it – and believes the No10 position has ‘almost disappeared’.
      Liverpool and Spain star Thiago, 30, isn’t a fan of modern tactics or VARCredit: Getty
      When asked how football has changed since he made his Barcelona debut in 2009, he told The Guardian: “It’s taken up a different pace, rhythm: more accelerated, more physical.
      “The figure of the No10 has almost disappeared. We see less magic, less fantasy.
      “You lose that player who’s different, who ‘breathes’ – the playmaker who was slower even if he had sublime technique doesn’t get the opportunity to turn.
      “I have that ‘hate modern football’ mentality, I’m more classic in attitude.
      “And then there’s VAR, which I’ve always opposed. It removes the essence, the picaresque.
      “We make mistakes when we play, referees have to make mistakes too. Lots of mythical moments wouldn’t exist [with VAR].
      “And when you score, even a brilliant goal from the halfway line, you’re waiting. Thinking, ‘I hope there isn’t a foul in the buildup, I hope there’s no offside.'”
      CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

      Thiago’s opinion on VAR is unlikely to have improved since he moved to Liverpool in September 2020.
      The Premier League’s application of the system has been condemned by many in English football.
      The former Bayern Munich midfielder is yet to show the Prem what he’s capable of after a difficult first season at Anfield.

      Injury restricted Thiago to just 24 top flight appearances last term, although his form improved significantly during the run-in as Liverpool stormed to Champions League qualification.
      Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was forced to defend the playmaker’s performances in February following criticism from fans and pundits.
      Thaigo is part of Spain’s squad for Euro 2020 and played the final 25 minutes of his country’s 0-0 draw with Sweden.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Dietmar Hamann says he isn’t sure if Thiago’s the right fit at Liverpool More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Uefa chiefs discuss SCRAPPING away goals rule in Champions League and other competitions from start of next season

      by

      UEFA club supremos will discuss plans to axe the away goals rule tomorrow.SunSport revealed last month that Europe’s Club Competitions Committee was ready to change the much-criticised rule.
      The away goals rule in Uefa competition, which saw Spurs beat Man City in 2019, could be scrapped as early as next seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Andres Iniesta famously knocked Chelsea out of the 2009 Champions League semi-finals on away goalsCredit: AP:Associated Press
      But a proposal for away goals to count extra in the first 90 minutes of the second leg was parked.
      It was felt that stopping the advantage of away goals in extra-time would be too confusing.
      Instead, panel members will debate scrapping the rule, originally introduced in the 1965-66 season.
      Uefa is understood to be ‘neutral’ over the proposal, which must be approved by the ruling executive committee.
      If club chiefs agree, it could end for 2021-22 European competitions.

      FIFA has opened the door for ex-players to be in the VAR room.
      At the moment only current and recently retired referees — in the last three years — are allowed roles in the video booth.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      Former stars could be allowed into the VAR room to offer a player’s perspective on decisionsCredit: EPA

      But Fifa president Gianni Infantino suggested the rules could change.
      Infantino said: “The real problem isn’t VAR but how it is applied and used. You can’t blame VAR if it’s not applied properly.
      “It’s only been with us since 2018 and we can improve a few things.
      “We will have to think about not having referees but specific VAR experts who can be responsible.”
      That suggests former stars could be brought into the process to offer a player’s perspective on what should and should not be penalised.
      Fifa has taken control of VAR from the International FA Board and is pushing for ‘semi-automatic’ offside calls using skeletal modelling — with decisions signalled to the ref and his assistants within seconds — for the 2022 World Cup finals.
      And Infantino is also a supporter of the ‘daylight’ offside law proposed by Arsene Wenger.
      He said: “We’re testing a possible new offside rule.
      WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!
      The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
      And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
      CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
      Dream Team Euros

      £50,000 jackpot
      The best fantasy football game this summer
      Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
      FREE to play

      “VAR has created an unexpected situation.
      “Before VAR, referees were told to give the doubt to the attacker — but with VAR there are no doubts any more.
      “We shouldn’t cancel a goal just because the nose is offside — but that’s the rule. So you have to see if you need to change the rule.”
      Just seven players have managed to score a hat-tricks of CL hat-tricks
      Man City vs Chelsea FREE – Live stream, TV channel and kick-off time for Champions League Final More

    • 225 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Premier League final table without VAR revealed with Arsenal in FOURTH and beating Chelsea to Champions League spot

      by

      ARSENAL would have finished FOURTH without VAR this season.A SunSport study of all the decisions overturned by Stockley Park show the Gunners were the biggest “sufferers” from the system.

      If all on-field original decisions had stuck, Mikel Arteta’s men would have earned four more points.
      That would have been enough to take them above Spurs, West Ham AND Chelsea and steal the final Champions League spot.
      Instead, Arsenal finished eighth and OUT of Europe for the first time since 1995-96.
      According to SunSport’s statistics, the final table would have shown a number of differences if VAR was not in operation.
      Liverpool, five points adrift of Manchester United in the actual table, would have swapped places with the Old Trafford side to take second, although still 13 points behind champions Manchester City.
      And West Ham, thrilled by the prospect of Europa League football, would have finished OUTSIDE the European spots on goal difference behind Spurs.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      In total, there were 119 decisions changed over the course of the season, with 39 goals allowed, 28 penalties awarded and 22 spot-kicks waived.
      There was also 17 red cards awarded after VAR intervention.
      Arsenal’s “net score” of minus-six on total VAR overrules – with three decisions changed in their favour and nine against – contributed to a loss of four points over the entire campaign.
      With those points, Arteta’s side would have edged out Chelsea for fourth on goals scored by a single strike, with both having a goal difference of plus-20.
      Liverpool, who had a league-leading 12 overrules against them, compared to just six in their favour, lost three points.
      Manchester United enjoyed the most fortune from Stockley Park, with 11 changes in their favour and eight decisions changed against them, giving them three points more than they would have had without VAR.
      Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal dropped down the table thanks to VAR decisionsCredit: Reuters

      Burnley, who had five calls in their favour and none against, were the biggest beneficiaries in terms of net decisions, although it would have no impact on their 17th-placed finish.
      Aston Villa, who survived last season because of that astonishing goalline technology blunder in the first match of Project Restart, would have leapfrogged Everton to earn a top-half finish without VAR, with Brighton up from 16th to 14th.
      And while the bottom three would, unsurprisingly, have still been relegated, West Brom would have finished a place and a point ahead of Fulham, rather than one behind.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!
      The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
      And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
      CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
      Dream Team Euros

      £50,000 jackpot
      The best fantasy football game this summer
      Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
      FREE to play

      Mark Halsey says VAR needs to improve after ref Mike Dean receives death threats after West Ham game More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Top 10 best and worst innovations in sport with goal-line technology a fan favourite but VAR most hated

      by

      INSTANT REPLAYS, rewinding live TV and slow motion have been revealed as the best technological innovations in sports broadcasting.Research of 2,000 sport lovers also found 360-degree pitch-side cameras, spider and drone cameras and being able to stream sport to a phone or tablet are among the top developments of recent years.
      Fans have not taken well to VAR, calling it one of the worst technological innovations in sportCredit: Andy Hooper-The Daily Mail
      Goal-line technology, Hawk-Eye in tennis and photo-finish imagery in horse racing and running were said to be the best in-sport innovations.
      Unsurprisingly VAR is deemed the worst tech innovation in sport by more fans (31 per cent) than any other development.
      Despite that, nearly one in five fans said rugby is doing the best job of using technology to enhance the fans’ experience, suggesting there may yet be hope for VAR if officials learn how to use it properly.
      Technology has had a major impact on sport, with 76 per cent agreeing it has had a positive effect on the fans experience.
      The research was commissioned for Innovate 21, a new BT Sport competition to find the next big innovation in sports broadcasting.
      Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operating officer, BT Sport, said, “There have been many impressive tech developments in the world of sport and broadcasting, particularly in recent years.
      “This research has highlighted the importance of tech for sports viewers.
      “Sport and sports broadcasting do not stand still though, and we are committed to remaining at the forefront of innovation.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      BEST & WORST SPORTING INNOVATIONS
      TOP 10 BEST INNOVATIONS IN SPORT
      1. Goal-line technology
      2. Hawk-Eye/Cyclops Technology usually used in tennis
      3. Photo finish technology – used in horse racing, running and more
      4. Prosthetic devices for disabled athletes
      5. Under soil heating
      6. Retractable stadium roofs
      7. Wearable performance monitors – track speed, acceleration, power, distance and heart rate
      8. Head and Neck Support (HANS) – used in motorsports, this keeps the head from whipping forwards and backward in a crash, while also preventing excessive twisting movements
      9. Snickometer – used when televising cricket to graphically show whether a fine noise or snick occurs as ball passes bat
      10. Running apps
      WORST 10 INNOVATIONS IN SPORT
      1. Video Assistant Referee (VAR)
      2. eSports – competitive video gaming
      3. Fantasy football insight apps – these analyse data to help gamers
      4. Cavity backs – used in golf to help make misfired shots more forgiving
      5. Voice activated assistants
      6. Ingestible thermometer pills – allows a person’s core temperature to be continuously monitored
      7. Snickometer
      8. Under soil heating
      9. LZR swimsuits
      10. Sports analytics services

      “This is why we’ve launched Innovate 21 to create the opportunity for someone to make a game changing mark on the world of sport.”
      When it comes to nostalgia for sports technology, it was Teletext updates that topped the list, followed by waiting for Match of the Day highlights to catch up on all the goals. 
      Other highly-rated sports broadcasting developments included 4K definition, in-depth analysis and enhanced video players to view key moments during the game.
      Overall in sport the introduction of prosthetic devices for disabled athletes, undersoil heating and retractable stadium roofs also impressed respondents.
      Seeing the action more clearly as well as feeling closer to it and being provided with more insight and information were the most important roles of sports broadcasting, according to the study.
      Nearly a third thought the most-important role of tech in sport was to make the game fairer, while one in six believed it to be improving performance of athletes.
      Football topped the sports in terms of best utilising technology to enhance fan’s viewing experience followed by cricket and tennis according to the research via OnePoll.
      Snickometer divided sports fans with many seeing it as a great piece of tech while others found it less effectiveCredit: Sky Sports
      And aside from television viewing, 53 per cent have watched sport on a PC or laptop while 41 per cent have soaked up the action via their smartphone.
      Overall, 63 per cent believe technology has had a positive impact on playing sport and 74 per cent reckon it has made sport more accessible to a larger audience.
      More than six in ten people also believe it’s made watching sport a more sociable experience.
      Future-gazing fans revealed they’d also like to see increased use of artificial intelligence, augmented reality and real-time weather data and predictions in sport moving forward.
      BT Sport has launched Innovate 21 to find exciting new ideas, technology and services spanning the entire sports broadcast chain from entrepreneurs, creatives and start-ups.
      The competition will provide one lucky winner with the opportunity to work with BT to develop their idea for future use.
      Since winning the 2018 BT Infinity Lab competition, Sceenic has worked with BT Sport to support last year’s launch of Watch Together on the BT Sport App. 
      *More details on how to enter are available at BT.
      Sam Allardyce responds to major blow after West Brom have goal ruled out in questionable VAR decision More

    • 200 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Ex-Prem ref explains why VAR didn’t look at Youri Tielemans’ winner vs Chelsea despite Perez handball

      by

      VAR didn’t check Leicester ace Ayoze Perez’s handball in the FA Cup Final because it didn’t occur “immediately” before Youri Tielemans’ screamer The Foxes won their first ever FA Cup on Saturday after beating Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley thanks to Tielemans’ sensational winner.
      Chelsea players believed the referee should have checked VAR after Leicester’s winnerCredit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement
      Leicester ace Youri Tielemans scored a screamer against ChelseaCredit: Rex
      However, the star midfielder’s stunner was met with some controversy as the ball hit Perez’s hand, via his knee, when he tried to intercept a Reece James pass in the build-up.
      Luke Thomas then picked up the ball and fed the Belgium international who launched an unstoppable 30-yard shot, which gave Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga absolutely no chance.
      A number of Blues players implored referee Michael Oliver to check the incident on VAR and a raft of fans echoed the same sentiments on social media.
      However, former Premier League referee Peter Walton explained that the supposed offence didn’t create Tielemans’ goalscoring opportunity and thus didn’t fall under VAR’s jurisdiction.
      Walton also claimed that Leicester ace Perez didn’t break any rules as the ball came off his knee first.
      WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game this summer

      He told BT Sport: “It’s a subjective viewpoint whether or not it was handball.
      “Personally, I don’t think it was a handball, the ball has deflected off Perez’s knee and just caught his arm.
      “That in itself people may argue is handball, I don’t think it was.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      “However, VAR would not have got involved in that incident because the actual goalscoring opportunity didn’t occur immediately when there was a potential handball.
      “There was seven seconds or so between that potential handball and the ball hitting the back of the net.
      “That’s not immediately and the law states it’s only an offence if the goalscoring opportunity happens immediately, so good use of VAR.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Tuchel reacts to Chelsea’s narrow loss against Leicester in the FA Cup final More