If you watch one VAR discussion tonight, make sure it's this one. The RTÉ panel don't hold back on their opposition of the new system #rtesoccer #worldcup #VAR pic.twitter.com/eCbnM3o2YK
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 25, 2018
THE RTÉ PANEL gave a scathing assessment of the Video Assistant Referee system following tonight’s controversial Iran-Portugal game.
Cristiano Ronaldo was fortunate not to be sent off for a stray elbow amid a series of other controversial decisions, and watching on from the studio, Keith Andrews, Didi Hamann and Liam Brady were left deeply unimpressed.
Andrews said the game “became a circus,” while Brady felt Iran were the victims of two bad decisions — the penalty that wasn’t and the failure to send Ronaldo off.
The Arsenal legend added that Iran were fortunate to receive the late penalty, explaining: “Because Iran had suffered a couple of injustices, they said to give the [last-minute] penalty.”
VAR farce? The RTÉ panel still aren't convinced by VAR and whether or not the right decisions are being made #rtesoccer #worldcup #VAR #IRN #POR pic.twitter.com/qSm5yKTa8G
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 25, 2018
Hamann, a long-time VAR critic, said there were too many “gray areas” with certain contentious calls for the system to be applied satisfactorily.
“The reason it was brought in in football was to get the right result and the fair result — that is the biggest myth in football because it only takes one decision to get wrong and you don’t get the fair result,” the former Liverpool midfielder said.
“The discrepancy between what we’ve lost in the emotion, heat-of-the-moment decisions, celebrations, sadness, if you compare that to what we got, did it make it any fairer, did it make our product any better? I don’t think it did.”
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Didi’s spot on. Use it for offside decisions maybe but nothing else.
@mar: and diving too, you don’t even need to have the referee involved for that the VAR can just say it. And if there’s exaggerated contact or theatrics then the decision should be reversed. Might help to start cleaning up the “beautiful” game
There wasn’t a whole lot wrong with the decisions made tonight, the rte panel use it as a discussion point because, much like most pundits, they’re incapable of analysing a football match.
Some of the decisions you could argue with but it comes down to a point of view in the end.
The Ronaldo decision was perfect for me, I wouldn’t have given the peno but it was heading back across the danger area so…
The real discussion for me was the toothlessness of Portugal and Spain in the group, the resolute defending and effective game plan from Iran and how far the teams will progress
Just need competant people to use the tools
@Dave O’Hanlon: tools using the tools so you’re saying Dave?!
I think Brady is correct thinking that the VAR guys in Moscow are calling the shots and telling the ref what decision to give. The final decision should be the ref’s. Ref should receive the assistance of the tech and of those that are controlling the tech but ultimately it should be his/her decision once the tech has been consulted. I know I sound cynical but until we can hear the conversation between the ref and the VAR officials we will never know who is making the calls on these crucial in game incidents! It lacks transparency which can only promote cheating and skullduggery. Without proper transparency i.e. hearing conversation between on field and VAR officials then it will never work effectively. FIFA need to take leaf out of the egg chasers book and sort this quick! Sadly unlikely!