As Hobo will point out, I could be wrong here because I haven't read the exact VAR rules-book. But I was under the impression that VAR isnot used for assessing the validity of free-kick foul calls by the referee? So, the Griezman foul call wasn't related to anything VAR-like. However, I agree that the penalty call VAR issue was both a pain to watch and a bigger pain to Croatia. Q. - Is there a particular VAR rule for penalty area handball (as opposed to penalty area wrestle fouls such as the glaring one in the Serbia-Swiss game? I thought that VAR (for a penalty call) only came into effect if the referee needed a review of his own decision because he was uncertain - but in this case (i think) the referee didn't make a decision because it was something he hadn't seen. The players made a big deal and then maybe he got a word from his mike that there was a possible hand-ball.... But why is he getting a word form his mike about a call he did not make that is not violent conduct? what exactly happened? It really looked to me like he did not initially see any handball contact at all, so it wasn't a matter of his then reviewing it to see if it could be definitely deemed unintentional. I could be wrong, but that's how it looked to me.... like he had no clue until the French players started remonstrating.
dunno about others, but I didn't support any team at this WC so I had nothing to "separate". but I really dislike a number of the players from the Prem, so that helped me lean towards one team vs another.
I know it’s not universally accepted but he used his hand to deflect the ball from its trajectory. As Ken said, I’ve seen less obvious hanballs given against us. And, anyhow, the referees have been giving these as handball all tournament long.
That's kind of my point though. You don't like them because they're Liverpool's rivals in the league but this is a different planet. At least that's my opinion. I know we're all humans and it's just natural. I've struggled with it in the past myself.
not exactly -- eg Hazard plays for Chelsea, but I have no negative feelings about him (a v good player actually). but his Belgium mate Fellaini is a totally different proposition. I effing hate him, for reasons that have a lot more to do with him being a prick than being a Manc. ergo I tend to want his national team to lose while he's playing.
That's a tough one...I don't care for Hazard - because he plays for Chel$ki - but also because when everyone was drooling over him a couple years ago when he won POY, I saw him as a diving cheat...falling over every time anyone touched him (especially if there was a lead in the game...) I still see him that way, and still don't care for him (or Fellaini for that matter)...in spite of that...I was hoping for a Belgium - Croatia final...just because I wanted a new WC winner...
I’m on the side of the ball hitting his hand after the French player missed heading it. It was coming in too fast to deliberately do anything. However his hand was also away from his body which is why I think they gave it.
the only way to resolve these debates is to make it simpler -- if the ball hits a defender's arm in the box, it's a pen, period. doesn't matter how fast the ball moved, how he or others positioned himself, whether his arm moved ... whatever. it's a pen. every time. now that's not gonna happen, so these debates will last forever. god bless VAR.
Yeah, as usual the proverbial blood is on FIFA's hands with this one. If they just made a blanket statement that said "if your hand/arm didn't exist, would the original trajectory of the ball have been different? If the answer is yes, then hand ball. End of," we wouldn't have these stupid debates across the world. Instead they want to leave it ambiguous for some damn reason.
wot -- no Arry Kane? good to see Lovren getting the recognition there. Young???? gimme strength .... Neymar??? LOL .....
Who picked that team? Ashley Young and Trippier as the fullbacks in a back 4. They played as wingbacks which is more of a midfielder and an easy position to play. Neymar and Paulinho? Coutinho and Casemiero were more deserving from their own team. I’m glad Lovren made it. It’s a big season for him. He’s a Champions League and World Cup finalist, he is self proclaimed as one of the best in the world, and now he’s in the team of the World Cup. It is set up perfectly for him to have a great season. He just has to perform on a consistent basis.
Özil retires from German NT blaming racists for it not himself for making pics with dictators III / III pic.twitter.com/c8aTzYOhWU— Mesut Özil (@M10) July 22, 2018