I'd say Fabinho was supposed to block Andersen but didn't get the chance as Schlupp did it for him. Fabinho actually just stood still.

VAR is total dross. Can’t celebrate goals at 100% anymore.

‘Clear and obvious errors’ only happen a few times a season (Freddie Sears phantom goal scenario), not 1-2 times per game. It’s become a worse viewing experience for fans.

I’d rather it went completely, but if it was to stay, I think captains should have 1 review per game for goal/red card incidents. The ref should have a 15 second window to rewatch the incident from 2 angles at normal speed - you shouldn’t need longer then that spot a clear error.

Lucky usually evens itself out over the course of the season

I can’t argue with any of that. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on the day even though my son was adamant they were blatant errors. He was right, I was wrong, and the PL bosses are delighted that the title race is a little closer. It sucks.

Regarding refs, and as someone pointed out a few posts ago, they haven't played the game at any level really as they start so young in order to get up the leagues in time to be a premier league ref. Based on the teenage boys who referee my sons under-11s games, I doubt too many of them will end up in the top flight no matter how early they start, but Christ knows there aren't enough people who want to be refs, and if we took away the incentive that a youngster might make it to the top if he starts young enough then it'd be even harder to get officals for grass roots football.

Anyway, I don't think the idea of referees having played the game is all that important really.

Firstly (and this is the lesser point), if they played professional football until 35 before starting out as a ref, they would either be 50+ years old by the time they had enough training and experience to officiate at the top level (and be called too old and slow to keep up with play) or be fast-tracked into top-flight refereeing with no experience behind them (and be called under-qualified and unproven).

Secondly (and this is the big issue for me), whatever playing experience and insight a ref might have doesn't really matter if he is not allowed to use it. The current system of refereeing (including VAR) seems to place no value at all on upholding the wider spirit of the game, focusing entirely on the technical rules, applied blindly and in total isolation to any one split second incident. That same system promotes and demotes referees, so even if an ex-pro has a better idea of what a player is up to when they 'draw' a foul, that ref still has to implement the wishes of the wider system if they want to stay at the top. I'd say most poor decisions (especially VAR ones) stem from fear of not implementing the letter of the law in a technical way, leading to the abandonment of the spirit of the game and fouls given for the most fleeting of contacts. TV has a lot to answer for here - if they didn't analyse every decision then perhaps refs wouldn't feel such pressure to overreact to contact.

Besides, listening to the likes of Shearer say that a forward has 'the right to go down' when contacted, or has 'been clever there' (something Vieria himself said about Jota on Sunday lets not forget), I'm not sure I want many ex-pros anywhere near a whistle.

On your second point, I'm not sure players ever played with true sportsmanship. From the hatchet men of the old days to the divers of today, they will get away with whatever they can because they are competitive animals under pressure to win.

Obviously, it helps hugely when referees wise up (they let more contact go early this season and it made a very positive difference), but any lasting change in the honesty of players would only come about when their own fans demand it.

Perhaps that means you and I have to criticise (perhaps boo or barrack?) our own players when they go over too easily, and not just reserve that treatment for Jota, Kane etc. Perhaps we have to applaud the ref when he waves play on at Zaha or Ayew, rather than join the chorus of pressure to give a free-kick. Not an easy thing to do.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (26 Jan 2022 2.47pm)

Edited by TheBigToePunt (26 Jan 2022 2.52pm)

Having real punishment for simulation would help - either within the game that it takes place in - 15 or 30 mins sin bin (depending upon circumstances) or red card -

Or if its a retrospect punishment (& I have only ever seen 1 player penalised after the game) the offending side loses a point & aggrieved side gains 1 point -

Obviously that's just a top of my head suggestion & it would probably need fine tuning but you get the drift.

Sin-bins will never happen in our lifetime as FIFA doesn't want them. Tho, a damm good idea, works in rugby union to good effect.

We have had 'retrospective punishment' it was stopped in favour of VAR which fans, managers & pundits wanted.

This operation, will make the 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' seem like a simple military exercise.