| Toenail offside BIN VAR NOW on 14:30 - Apr 22 by HighgateBlue |
There are many reasons to hate VAR, and there are many rival arguments about what the solution is (if there is one).
But in terms of what the Laws of the Game ARE, rather than what they perhaps ought to be, the "clear and obvious" stipulation does not apply to a "serious missed incident". See para 4 of law 5, pasted at the bottom of this message.
As I understand it, a missed offside is deemed to be a "serious missed incident" and hence is not subject to the "clear and obvious" stipulation.
The Premier League website has some FAQs (also below, but of course I realise the Cov v Man U match was not a Premier League match) which seem to indicate that where a decision is an objective decision such as whether someone was in an offside position, rather than a subjective one (for example, whether something is an obvious goalscoring opportunity), the "clear and obvious stipulation" doesn't apply. I think that is just the Premier League trying to set it out in simpler terms rather than trying to tally with the wording of the Law 100%.
Of course, if the offside decision was fully automated and a whistle went off instantaneously, there would have been no 'goal', and we wouldn't be as annoyed as we are. But that is not technologically possible.
SECTION FROM PREMIER LEAGUE FAQS:
https://www.premierleague.com/news/1293321
"When will VAR be used in Premier League matches?
The VAR is constantly monitoring the match.
VAR is used only for "clear and obvious errors" or "serious missed incidents" in four match-changing situations: goals; penalty decisions; direct red-card incidents; and mistaken identity.
But factual decisions such as offsides, and the issue of whether a player is inside or outside the penalty area, are not subject to the "clear and obvious" test.
If the VAR sees an error has been made in such a situation they will intervene, regardless of how marginal the decision is.
There is a high bar for the VARs to intervene on subjective decisions, to maintain the pace and intensity of matches."
SECTION FROM THE LAWS OF THE GAME:
https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/laws/football-11-11
"4. Video assistant referee (VAR)
The use of video assistant referees (VARs) is only permitted where the match/competition organiser has fulfilled all Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP) requirements as set out in FIFA's IAAP documents, and has received written permission from FIFA.
The referee may be assisted by a video assistant referee (VAR) only in the event of a 'clear and obvious error' or 'serious missed incident' in relation to:
goal/no goal
penalty/no penalty
direct red card (not second caution)
mistaken identity when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player of the offending team
The assistance from the video assistant referee (VAR) will relate to using replay(s) of the incident. The referee will make the final decision which may be based solely on the information from the VAR and/or the referee reviewing the replay footage directly ('on-field review').
Except for a 'serious missed incident' the referee (and where relevant other 'on-field', match officials) must always make a decision (including a decision not to penalise a potential offence); this decision does not change unless it is a 'clear and obvious error'.
REVIEWS AFTER PLAY HAS RESTARTED
If play has stopped and restarted, the referee may only undertake a 'review', and take the appropriate disciplinary sanction, for mistaken identity or for a potential sending off offence relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s)." |
How could the hair's breadth offside for Coventry's "winning" goal have counteracted a "clear & obvious error" when none of the Man U players seemed remotely interested in appealing for offside?
Of course, the problem is defining what constitutes a "clear & obvious error", but VAR has moved well beyong that, with every goal beinf reviewed as the VAR tried to find a reason to disalow it. |  |
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