Match 101 [SF] : FRA : ESP - BARTON (SLV)

Per The Guardian here:

Fifa has moved its video assistant referees on-site for the semi-finals, following criticism of decisions during the quarter-finals.

 

Yes, the decisions will be much better with proximity.

 

I wonder if all 5 VAR officials will be in stadium or this is just a misunderstanding of the SBVARs being in stadium. And also they’re gonna do that, doesn’t that mean they don’t need the SBVARs, whose official purpose was to be on site in case of tech issues with Dallas? Guess we will find out when we get the shot of the room, ha

 

Assuming it's true about VAR's being there, how will that solve how the disparity on how/when VAR is getting involved?

 

"This decision taken by FIFA in support of fair play and supporting referees is totally consistent with recent policy directives adopted by the Executive Council."

How'd I do?

 

Do the standby VARs actively follow along with the game? Having more bodies on the job isn't always going to speed things along. However, it does seem like in certain cases a divide and conquer approach could be appropriate. Like with the CK/GK decisions, if you have five people each looking at one or two angles, that's going to be a lot faster than one person looking at all the angles. Or sometimes you have tricky decisions where there is a decision on a foul and on offside, so you could divide and conquer there, too.

But the standby designation makes me suspect that they aren't really involved unless someone has to leave the room or something.

 

Forgot his spray...oops

 

Forgot his foam spray bottle? Deduct two points.

 

Did he not have spray to start or did his fail?

 

As yellow cards go, that was a bit much in the 10th, no?

 

Well thats not great optics.

 

Probably better to not delay the game and do it the old fashioned way than to retrieve the spray with everyone waiting.

 

Would have been interesting with VAR, small touch on the ball vs. big stamp on the foot. If Barton calls that for a PK, surely no intervention?

 

I think he was doing that and the Spain players were demonstrative that they wanted the spray. Did I miss see it?

 

Studs into the ankle, no card? The Balogun VAR might have sent that down…

 

PK- You can't be any more decisive than that.

 

What minute did he forget his spray

 

Spray was 8'. At least the foul that led to it.

 

Clock at 9:20-ish

 

Just out of curiosity, does anyone think the France goalkeeper was pushing his luck?