Book on VAR

[Hipper]

Fascinated by VAR?

There is an article in New Scientist no less called 'It's not football any more' by Daisy Christodoulou in the 23rd November 2024 issue (not sure where non subscribers can see it). In it she discusses the question of trying to measure something accurately that doesn't seem possible to do so, siting early difficulties with finding the boiling point of water, for example. Apparently one country, Sweden, has refused to use VAR in its top division. In conclusion she suggests we either give up on the idea of trying to make exact measurements or may be employ AI.

She has written a book on the subject:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Stop-Thin ... C84&sr=8-1

[bfcmik]

VAR isn't just about measuring things. Offsides are now done automatically by the computer.

It is about giving the VAR officials chance to run back the video and look for other issues. At least that is the theory behind it. In practice it is for the PGMOL to extend their power.

[Stonehouse]

VAR isn't just about measuring things. Offsides are now done automatically by the computer.

It is about giving the VAR officials chance to run back the video and look for other issues. At least that is the theory behind it. In practice it is for the PGMOL to extend their power.

If your talking about The Premier League I think you may be wrong and I’m pretty certain in the W Ham v Liverpool game the other day they manually looked at 2 offside calls for 2 of Liverpool’s goals.

[bobinho]

It’s a complete abomination in its current format.

I was all for it, being sick of all the “obvious” mistakes that were made week in, week out and almost ALWAYS in favour of the big clubs by inept and incompetent referees. It was going to be the “leveller”. It clearly isn’t….

It’s nothing more than an opportunity to chalk off goals. Refs are now failing to make a call because they think that VAR will help them out of a hole.

Bin it altogether. It’s an absolute cluster…. I’d rather have genuine, honest mistakes than VAR destroying the game….

[Stproc]

As an ex-metrologist, I am fully aware of ‘uncertainty of measurement’ and how it limits accuracy. VAR regularly gives offside decisions that would never stand up to scrutiny. So, the only part of it that can be objective is flawed from the outset, the rest is just subjective.

[bobinho]

One of the issues is that it seems to have forgotten the operating phrase they trotted out at its inception.

Clear and obvious.

If you need lines drawing across a screen, and two individuals watching it over and over and over in slow motion to be able to make a decision, the error was neither clear NOR obvious. Refs call unless it’s absolutely blatant.

[Burnley1989]

As an ex-metrologist, I am fully aware of ‘uncertainty of measurement’ and how it limits accuracy. VAR regularly gives offside decisions that would never stand up to scrutiny. So, the only part of it that can be objective is flawed from the outset, the rest is just subjective.

Another Metrologist here...

Id certainly not try and explain uncertainty of measurement on here, 99% of mechanical & design engineers dont even understand it

[Stonehouse]

One of the issues is that it seems to have forgotten the operating phrase they trotted out at its inception.

Clear and obvious.

If you need lines drawing across a screen, and two individuals watching it over and over and over in slow motion to be able to make a decision, the error was neither clear NOR obvious. Refs call unless it’s absolutely blatant.

They obviously should take a leaf out of crickets book but the ones in charge seem to have this know all attitude and like you say all decisions should be down to the ref unless it’s an obvious mistake and var disallowing goals because some boot is 5mm offside is laughable ,cricket is a gentleman’s sport mainly played by gentlemen and run by gentleman who are mainly quite bright whereas football is probably played mostly by dummies and is definitely overseen by dummies.

[alboclaret]

VAR isn't just about measuring things. Offsides are now done automatically by the computer.

It is about giving the VAR officials chance to run back the video and look for other issues. At least that is the theory behind it. In practice it is for the PGMOL to extend their power.

It's not semi auto yet

[dougcollins]

It’s a complete abomination in its current format.

I was all for it, being sick of all the “obvious” mistakes that were made week in, week out and almost ALWAYS in favour of the big clubs by inept and incompetent referees. It was going to be the “leveller”. It clearly isn’t….

It’s nothing more than an opportunity to chalk off goals. Refs are now failing to make a call because they think that VAR will help them out of a hole.

Bin it altogether. It’s an absolute cluster…. I’d rather have genuine, honest mistakes than VAR destroying the game….

Not the "leveller". Quite the opposite.

And I probably thought the same as you.

[Vegas Claret]

I posted a link on here a good few times which was a study by a university on VAR and offsides. The technology isn't there, it isn't accurate, they can't roll frames accurately, the lines are too thick. It's an absolute **** show. Part of me obviously wants us to do well and get promoted but part of me hates the PL and VAR - it's football hell.

[RammyClaret61]

It’s a complete abomination in its current format.

I was all for it, being sick of all the “obvious” mistakes that were made week in, week out and almost ALWAYS in favour of the big clubs by inept and incompetent referees. It was going to be the “leveller”. It clearly isn’t….

It’s nothing more than an opportunity to chalk off goals. Refs are now failing to make a call because they think that VAR will help them out of a hole.

Bin it altogether. It’s an absolute cluster…. I’d rather have genuine, honest mistakes than VAR destroying the game….

Completely agree. It’s killed my enjoyment of watching football. So much so, I don’t watch at all anymore. In the last 16 months. I’ve only watched 3 games live on tv. And we get every premier league game live here.
I’ve watched our PL game at Sheff Utd. And this seasons Rovers & PNE games. I’m just not interested. And it’s VAR that killed it for me. On top of cheating players of course.

Sad but true.

[ArmchairDetective]

Fascinated by VAR?

There is an article in New Scientist no less called 'It's not football any more' by Daisy Christodoulou in the 23rd November 2024 issue (not sure where non subscribers can see it). In it she discusses the question of trying to measure something accurately that doesn't seem possible to do so, siting early difficulties with finding the boiling point of water, for example. Apparently one country, Sweden, has refused to use VAR in its top division. In conclusion she suggests we either give up on the idea of trying to make exact measurements or may be employ AI.

She has written a book on the subject:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Stop-Thin ... C84&sr=8-1

I imagine this is an interesting read and from your brief description I think Daisy and I may have similar views on VAR.

However, since we've been in the championship I've managed to almost forget that VAR exists and have been enjoying that. So I won't give it a read anytime soon. A bit like not watching the news for a while, ignorance is bliss.

With VAR I always come back to the fact that you can no longer celebrate a goal in the PL without fear that it's going to be chalked off. There aren't too many goals in football compared to other sports and the greatest most enjoyable aspect of football is being able to go wild when your team does score a goal. Therefore the best part of football for me has been taken away with VAR.

Ai might help in being able to make immediate decisions re: offsides rather than waiting for the player to score then taking the goal away, and as such might help with the above problem somewhat. But I think we're a long way from VAR having a positive/neutral rather than detrimental impact on fan experience.