Then why do you come on here and read and comment on our opinions since we have such little credibility?
But if the VAR was a true assistant referee giving advice to look at the monitor, then it wouldn't be as big of a deal for the VAR advising Atkinson that he may want to see a different angle for himself. In other words, what would constitute better teamwork and allow the center referee to still maintain ultimate control over the game? "Martin, it's the VAR. I have seen an angle that you may want to review for yourself. It shows that we may have a send-off instead of a caution." OR "Martin, I'm overruling you and calling that a send-off even though you called it as a caution on the field. Just trust me - it's a send-off."
Some opinions and comments are interesting, others not so. It is in comparison to Hackett and preference when there is a choice. Big difference. Credibility is a sliding scale. Einstein would have more than a freshman physics major, when discussing relativity for example. Likewise and ex-FIFA referee who was also the head of PGMOL for many years has more credibility to me than most people who write opinions about refereeing top level professional soccer and certainly if those others have never refereed at that level at all. It is very simple really. PH
A lot of sports give the replay official the last word on *specific calls* that have yes/no answers ... Did the ball cross the line (any sport, including tennis)? On an LBW call in cricket -- was the bowler's delivery legal, did the ball hit the bat (they have microphones to help them determine that), would it have hit the wicket (often, the tracking software can say so, but it's STILL sometimes left to the umpire's discretion -- the umpire has the sense of how wet the field is and so forth). I think IFAB hasn't done a great job of distinguishing such objective yes/no questions from things that require judgment. Judgment calls should be left to the referee. And the referee should be receptive to the VAR -- not necessarily to other *opinions* but to other angles. So in the example here -- the first quote is absolutely the best. Ideally, we wouldn't have many OFRs in soccer. The VAR can say the ball went out. Goal-line tech can say the ball crossed the line. If #14 punches a player and, in the ensuing confusion, the center ref shows red to #18, the VAR can point it out. (No difference there from what an AR might do.) Offside decisions can be overturned, but if it's clear and obvious -- and drawing a bunch of lines on a field at some mythical point in which someone in a booth thinks the ball was played forward isn't "clear and obvious" to me. OFR would be only for situations like this. "Hey Martin, you might want to look at this other angle" is perfect. (That said, I don't think he could've had a better look at the Origi foul. He just did the time-tested EPL whistle-swallowing act.)
Mike Dean cautioned Arsenal assistant coach Freddie Ljungberg in the game against Sheffield Utd. Is there statistics somewhere on the number of cautions handed out to staff members in the EPL?
Southampton - Leicester Referee: Andre Marriner. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Simon Long. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Mike Dean. Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday. Man City - Aston Villa Referee: Graham Scott. Assistants: Neil Davies, Harry Lennard. Fourth official: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Jonathan Moss. Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday. Brighton - Everton Referee: Andy Madley. Assistants: Eddie Smart, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Stuart Attwell. VAR: Lee Mason. Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes. Watford - Bournemouth Referee: Mike Dean. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Darren Cann. Fourth official: Tom Nield. VAR: Andre Marriner. Assistant VAR: Scott Ledger. West Ham - Sheffield Utd Referee: David Coote. Assistants: Daniel Cook, Sian Massey-Ellis. Fourth official: Darren Bond. VAR: Martin Atkinson. Assistant VAR: Stephen Child. Burnley - Chelsea Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett. Fourth official: Chris Kavanagh. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Richard West. Newcastle - Wolves Referee: Kevin Friend. Assistants: Matthew Wilkes, Adrian Holmes. Fourth official: Simon Hooper. VAR: Graham Scott. Assistant VAR: Derek Eaton. Arsenal - Crystal Palace Referee: Martin Atkinson. Assistants: Lee Betts, Peter Kirkup. Fourth official: Tim Robinson. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Neil Davies. Liverpool - Tottenham Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Mike Dean. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan. Norwich - Man Utd Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Richard West. Fourth official: Oliver Langford. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton. Taylor with the match of the week, Atkinson with the London derby. Don't take your eyes off the Watford - Bournemouth game.
Matches between "top six" so far (have to put in quotes because Man Utd is so far off): Liverpool - Man City (Community Shield): Atkinson Man Utd - Chelsea: Taylor Man City - Tottenham: Oliver Liverpool - Arsenal: Taylor Arsenal - Tottenham: Atkinson Chelsea - Liverpool: Oliver Man Utd - Arsenal: Friend Man Utd - Liverpool: Atkinson Liverpool - Tottenham: Taylor
https://www.espn.com/soccer/english...ix-var-in-the-premier-league-in-one-easy-step It's almost as if this writer is reading this thread...
Andy Madley is older brother of former EPL and FIFA referee Bobby Madley who was fired by PGMOL and relocated to Norway with his Norwegian girlfriend last year. Is he still working as a referee in Norway? Incidentally he was reportedly fired for something he put out on social media, so what happened to the rugby ref is along the same lines and both show that what is done off the pitch is not like what is done in Vegas! PH
What a strange feeling it must be. Dean tells Marriner to give an SFP red card for a foul that Marriner didn’t even call. Also, it happens after a goal against the team in question. The referee’s role in managing the match is taken completely away.
The interesting thing is if he has seen it correctly, he can’t apply advantage, and Leicester doesn’t score. His mistake ends up benefiting Leicester twofold.
This should get a headline of the month award: "Dean on the green - referee Mike moonlights as caddy" https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/golf/49859370
Last sentence^. That is the major problem with VAR. The ref has someone looking over his shoulder, backing him up. He knows (at least subconsciously) that he doesn't have to make a decision - because someone else is also making a decision on the same play. The ref is no longer in charge and knows it! And the blame can focus on the VAR for calling (or not calling) it. It appears to me that there is a lot more discussion/complaining of ref/VAR calls since VAR began. Players are human and make mistakes. Officials are human and make mistakes. In my humble opinion all sports should do away with the instant replay officiating. Yes, errors will occur. But the major talk will be about the game/match and not the officiating (or lack thereof.)
Ha, screen! The card was given without an OFR, just as has been advertised. The monitors are there for show. Best I can tell from what we’ve been told, have seen, and I’ve heard from reliable sources, the only way an OFR will happen in England this season is if there is a mass con that requires review (and when’s the last true mass con you’ve seen in the EPL?).
Except that in the PL, they aren't actaully using it and the refs know that, so that isn't really a factor (other than whether or not the ball hit the hand and OS). And this is one of the problems with the PL implementation. Everywhere else in the world, the R makes the final decision from the video. PL has decided to pass the game critical decision to the VAR alone. Aren't you paying attention to IFAB? VAR reduces controversy. . . .
This is a case of the VAR not being junior or less experienced than the CR. Makes it much easier to intervene. PH