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#Post#: 102203--------------------------------------------------
Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: March 1, 2026, 1:43 pm
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Another substandard weekend for VAR with Brooks and Tierney at
the centre of attention.
We have the FA cup next weekend and VAR is in play for that.
If there’s any more controversy during the week with the ten
midweek offerings then it is going to be a challenging week for
Webb.
#Post#: 102214--------------------------------------------------
Re: Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: Charlieboy
Date: March 1, 2026, 3:45 pm
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Imo poor is being nice. Personally i think it’s now an
embarrassment.
#Post#: 102218--------------------------------------------------
Re: Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: Pm2
Date: March 1, 2026, 4:44 pm
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This has been an awful weekend for refs and var.
Hopefully big improvement midweek woth 8 of 10 refs from this
weekend out again…
Taylor and Oliver still needed badly every week🙈
#Post#: 102244--------------------------------------------------
Re: Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: Marvin Grapevine
Date: March 2, 2026, 6:59 am
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VAR is ruining the game and undermining officials. I think
decision making in real time has got worse since it was
introduced.
With the increased media coverage the situation is becoming
untenable. The system cannot work for subjective decisions, I
think that much is very clear (it was also entirely
predictable). The inconsistencies are so obvious, from week to
week you'll see similar decisions viewed in totally different
ways simply to try and uphold the on field decision, which fans
rightly criticise. Then there's the absurd KMI panel stating
decisions were wrong but not wrong enough for VAR to get
involved.
So rather than getting rid of it for subjective decisions,
instead they are doubling down by expanding the powers (again
entirely predictable). This will lead to more calls of
unfairness when a team scores from a wrongly awarded free kick -
why isn't that reviewed when a corner is?
Matchgoing fans will continue to be kept in the dark, the joy of
celebrating goals has already been taken away, and football will
continue to lose what made it so special.
I hate it. I hated the idea of it from the outset because
football is not like cricket or tennis where decisions are
factual. It's entirely subjective and all VAR has done is added
another subjective layer to an already subjective process.
To get PGMOL telling us everything is fine and more decisions
right than ever is very much a case of being p*ssed on and told
it is raining.
#Post#: 102246--------------------------------------------------
Re: Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: El Referee
Date: March 2, 2026, 7:15 am
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--- Quote from: Marvin Grapevine link ---
>
> VAR is ruining the game and undermining officials. I think
decision making in real time has got worse since it was
introduced.
>
> With the increased media coverage the situation is becoming
untenable. The system cannot work for subjective decisions, I
think that much is very clear (it was also entirely
predictable). The inconsistencies are so obvious, from week to
week you'll see similar decisions viewed in totally different
ways simply to try and uphold the on field decision, which fans
rightly criticise. Then there's the absurd KMI panel stating
decisions were wrong but not wrong enough for VAR to get
involved.
>
> So rather than getting rid of it for subjective decisions,
instead they are doubling down by expanding the powers (again
entirely predictable). This will lead to more calls of
unfairness when a team scores from a wrongly awarded free kick -
why isn't that reviewed when a corner is?
>
> Matchgoing fans will continue to be kept in the dark, the joy
of celebrating goals has already been taken away, and football
will continue to lose what made it so special.
>
> I hate it. I hated the idea of it from the outset because
football is not like cricket or tennis where decisions are
factual. It's entirely subjective and all VAR has done is added
another subjective layer to an already subjective process.
>
> To get PGMOL telling us everything is fine and more decisions
right than ever is very much a case of being p*ssed on and told
it is raining.
>
--- End Quote ---
Hard to disagree with any of this. I never ever wanted VAR, as I
knew how things would go. The C&O mantra is well and truly out
of the window, as we may or may not get a VAR getting involved,
seemingly based on the weather, shape of the moon and if the
breeze is blowing easterly.
Only thing I would say, is that the KMI panel saying something
was right or wrong doesn't add too much value. As they aren't
generally referees (or ex-referees) they maybe take a more
simplistic view to things (although we could maybe learn
something from that approach!)
#Post#: 102292--------------------------------------------------
Re: Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: robbieg
Date: March 2, 2026, 2:51 pm
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No one will ever convince me that taking over five minutes to
make a subjective decision is good for the game.
We[ Sunderland ] got the mucky end of the stick on Saturday at
Bournemouth when a push in the penalty area was deemed as
natural contact and yet thirty seconds later a similar offence
of far less magnitude was given simply because it was outside of
the box.
We can argue the whys and wherefores of those two decisions
until the cows come home but that was absolutely nothing
compared to what happened to Burnley.
It is now starting where the normal fan trusts VAR and those who
administer it less and less and that is no good whatsoever for
anyone.
Many years ago I was at a talk-in at a local pub given by
former top flight referee George Tyson [ R.I.P] and within his
words he came out with a phrase that no doubt all those who
contribute to this forum will endorse " Without a referee, there
ain't a game".
Of course that phrase is one hundred per cent correct and
totally watertight but let us also remember that without a crowd
whether it be fifty thousand in a Premier League stadium or
three blokes and a dog watching two pub sides on a park football
field there ain't a game to officiate in.
As a mere supporter all I want to see is consistency .
Is that too much to ask ?
#Post#: 102295--------------------------------------------------
Re: Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: TVOS
Date: March 2, 2026, 3:39 pm
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It's at times like these when I'm glad I've watched all my
football in Division 3/4, League 1/2 and the National League.
#Post#: 102300--------------------------------------------------
Re: Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: Claretman
Date: March 2, 2026, 4:10 pm
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Mr Webb was brought in to improve refereeing and var after the
period under Mr Riley.
I wasnt a fan of the latter pgmol chief but i cant see that Mr
Webb has improved anything, if anything it has regressed. All
this trying to appease everyone because its what the game wants
has failed miserably and it wasnt too difficult to predict that
it would.
#Post#: 102306--------------------------------------------------
Re: Another poor weekend for VAR.
DIR By: Whistleblower
Date: March 3, 2026, 3:57 am
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--- Quote from: Claretman link ---
>
> Mr Webb was brought in to improve refereeing and var after the
period under Mr Riley.
> I wasnt a fan of the latter pgmol chief but i cant see that Mr
Webb has improved anything, if anything it has regressed. All
this trying to appease everyone because its what the game wants
has failed miserably and it wasnt too difficult to predict that
it would.
>
--- End Quote ---
Life has taught me that if you are in a position of leadership
you have to lead. Of course, you try and get people on board and
carry them with you but your objective has to be to do what you
believe is right rather than please people. If you can sell your
decision to them and they accept or even like it, then all to
the good but doing the right thing has to take precedence even
if people don't like it. If you are in a position where you have
to be subject to others' will and desires, then that is not
leading it is being a functionary of the organisation.
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