Tell me how the below can be misinterpreted? - You say the right call was made about half the people I have spoken to are convinced it was just offside, what is clear is they didn't follow their own criteria.
http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/laws/football-11-11/law-5---the-referee
Video assistant referee (VAR)
The use of video assistant referees (VARS) is only permitted where the match/competition organiser has fulfilled all the VAR protocol and implementation requirements (as set out in the VAR Handbook) and has received written permission from The IFAB and FIFA.
The referee may be assisted by a video assistant referee (VAR) only in the event of a
'clear and obvious error' or 'serious missed incident' in relation to:
- goal/no goal
- penalty/no penalty
- direct red card (not second caution)
- mistaken identity when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player of the offending team
The assistance from the video assistant referee (VAR) will relate to using replay(s) of the incident. The referee will make the final decision which may be based solely on the information from the VAR and/or the referee reviewing the replay footage directly ('on-field review').
Except for a 'serious missed incident' the referee (and where relevant other 'on-field', match officials)
must always make a decision (including a decision not to penalise a potential offence); this decision does not change unless it is a 'clear and obvious error'.
My links were fine, there is no proof out there as yet as there has been no mass poll what it does show is there is discontent with VAR and how it is changing the flow / spontaneity of the game.
Which comes down to clear and obvious error. Which is interpretation, isnt it? Maybe you feel it wasnt clear, but the VAR team did.
Just as with offside - I havent seen a genuine complaint that it wasnt. The nearest was "do you look at his feet or upper body - well I think its supposed to be any part you can score from - that was his shoulder, so its onside.."
Hardly half the country CONVINCED otherwise. Come on! Its that close how can anyone be convinced otherwise?
You are talking as if its another Mendes type incident, its not.
Its a decision made, by the professional, with the ability to zoom in and check against a marker and everything.
He is wrong and half the country of casual fans are right?
Your links prove nothing. If I could be bothered Im sure I could find pages on the virtues of it as well, would you take it as anything other than a few peoples opinion?
And ALL of this is looking at a testing phase of all things. Not the final implementation.
Already I think everyone would agree it is much improved on the world cup. Is it not fair to wait and see if it improves further?
From my perspective I can handle human error always have been and I know that might be just my view but thats where I stand with it, in the same way human error is in the game from manager selections and player mistakes, it happens, ref mistakes although able to highlight were never in my opinion that bad that they needed to be addressed.
Supporters saying it works its just badly applied, well for me thats the same thing, the application is all part and parcel of the same package that is VAR to me, people not being able to used it or implement it properly is not a valid excuse for VAR in my opinion.
I can understand that. I dont share the view, I find common and silly errors in officiating something that really tinkle me off.
Particularly when you are watching a game and the muppet pundits in the studio have all the tools to immediately disect the decision and make the right shout. Clearly the facility is there, but the refs arent using it.
For me VAR, in theory at least, puts that all right.
As to the implementation, as I said to rusx - its a work in progress. One that is improving on every testing IMO.
Is it fair to judge it as if "thats it"?
Not you specifically, but after this round the only things I can see as tangible complaints are
1) I just dont like it, and
2) It was confusing/disconcerting/I didnt know what was going on and thats frustrating.
1) there can be little done about. Though as with many things I suspect a majority of people will come round with time.
2) Isnt a "VAR" problem per se, rather a communication one it seems. SOmething that can be easily remedied.