P/I/P Game 24: L.A. Galaxy @ Columbus, WEDNESDAY 8/23/17, 4:30pm PT

And referees should be forced to wear mime attire and do the box routine when making a VAR call, just to f with them, because that's how much of a joke VAR is.

 

This explains why Sigi looked like he was ready to storm the field in sheer irritation. Also explained me lighting up my room with some choice language. The Cole foul especially pissed me off.

Maybe it's my years of American football, but I don't mind VAR and it's interruptions. I'm less of a purist about it. I want it used for what I thought was it's original purpose - which is what @skydog laid out. To give the US a penalty when Torsten Frings clearly has a handball preventing a goal.

So go VAR! (I know an unpopular opinion). Just want it used right and consistently (aka, in calling for it, not meant using it consistently throughout a game).

There are going to be growing pains guys, no choice about that. Glad the Confederations Cup tried it out as an example.

 

So digressing from the fantastic VAR discussion, but a quick survey. As there will be a bit of an overlap, who will be switching over to the GoT season finale at 6pm Sunday?

 

So you are saying that they will regularly be using VAR as an extra "boss ref" rather than an "egregious mistake avoider" that they insisted repeatedly it was going to be? If so this also means it isn't going to be the rarely used, unobtrusive aid they assured us it would be.

 

It's new tech that both MLS matches and the Confederations Cup have revealed to be as much of a curse as a boon. Wednesday's example was the former - like MLS just got a new toy and had to play with it no matter what. Or maybe more like a survivalist stocking up on canned goods and eating them all within a month because they were there and the Vienna sausages looked too tasty to resist.

 

I thought the call back of Zardes goal in the previous game was an example of the perfect use of VAR. Initially it looked to everyone like a legitimate goal but video review revealed that Gyasi had used his hands. It was a 100% clear call and no honest person, even a Galaxy fan like myself, would argue with it.

But if VAR is going to be used in the way asoc claims I want no part of it. I already hate the overuse of video replays at the end of almost every NBA game. Even clear cut, way before time expired winning shots are being reviewed. It absolutely kills the instantaneous delirious celebratory mood such game changing events used to evoke.

 

Okay, I can accept your explanation of when. I cannot explain the clear error on the Joao Pedro offsides call. Yes he was in an off sides position when the ball was headed in. However, it was not clear that he either interfered with the keeper or touched the ball based upon all of the replays that I have seen. Is there a replay that shows either. If not is this not an egregious call by the VAR.

 

Thank you. I was clearly wrong. I don't recall it from the Spectrum feed, but I guess that I only saw or remembered what I wanted to see. Sorry asoc

 

A true fan indeed.

 

I can't object to the VAR calls, obviously, but does anyone think VAR made this game more entertaining? I object to it in principle.

 

I am quite sure that the Columbus fans found the result much more entertaining than Galaxy fans. I don't object to VAR as long as the results are right. In this case Columbus ended up with 3 points which was the right result and ultimately IMO more important.

 

My problem is if it has indeed changed from a rarely used "glaring error corrector" to a more routinely used video review mechanism method it will open a new can of worms and materially change the flow/excitement of the game.

There will be more accuracy for sure. But probably a quarter of the time a goal is awarded (more often on corners and free kicks) there are pushes and shoves and other infractions that will show up on slomo VAR and lead to a reversal. So now fans won't really be able to confidently celebrate "game winning goals" or pk calls in real time. Instead they will have to wait until everything has been looked at and given the VAR seal of approval. The likelihood of a reversal will just be too high. We are starting to see that already - quite a few goals have been awarded and then taken off the board in MLS.

I mentioned earlier the overuse of VR has already dulled the end-of-game experience in both college and pro basketball. I think this will be the case in soccer as well if VAR is over-used.

 

I take an opposite view. I never celebrate a goal until I look at the AR. I think even more VAR is needed not less (e.g. yellow cards) due to the often poor quality of MLS referees or their call fewer fouls entertainment based guidance.