VAR in Scottish football - Share your views

[David]

For those who aren't in the Well Society or who didn't see the email, the following was sent out today:

As the first top-flight football club in the UK to be owned by its supporters, Motherwell Football Club, through the Well Society, has a duty to ensure that the views of our fans are properly represented on important matters within the game.

Growing concerns around VAR

Over recent months, concerns have been growing among fans, players and staff across the country regarding the impact VAR is having on the rhythm of matches, the atmosphere in stadiums and trust in refereeing decisions.

In addition to these concerns, it is important to note that VAR currently costs each club a six-figure sum every season. A significant outlay that further underlines the need for a proper debate about its future.

Listening to our members and shaping the future

In light of this, the Well Society has committed to starting a process of listening and engaging with our members and the wider Motherwell support. Our aim is to gain a clearer understanding of supporters’ views on VAR and to consider whether the Society should take a position in favour of change or call for its removal from Scottish football altogether.

This marks the beginning of a wider effort to build connections with other supporter groups and to explore the potential for positive, fan-led action.

You can share your view by completing the survey available here between now and Monday 2nd June at noon.

[Spiderpig]

No survey or debate required, VAR needs binned ASAP its ruining the game, especially the pound shop version we have in Scotland and the incompetent clowns running it.

[weeyin]

I was happy to share my views in great detail.

tl;dr ditch it

 

[MJC]

It’s ruining football.

It is far too jobsworth-like and rather than intervening to correct clear and obvious errors by onfield officials it is too often going back to earlier phases of play to almost forensic examine everything that happens in the build up to goals/penalties to find even the most minuscule infringement. 
 

Get rid ASAP

[grizzlyg]

It is not being used properly.......but is only ever an issue when it affects the old squirm

[wellfan]

Get it in the bin. That was my response to the survey. 

[0Neils40yarder]

They'll never get rid of it, they've fucked it up by bringing it in but there is no going back unfortunately

[weeyin]

17 minutes ago, 0Neils40yarder said:

They'll never get rid of it, they've fucked it up by bringing it in but there is no going back unfortunately

Just need a malfunction of the technology and both teams agreeing to play without. Might look a bit suspicious when it happens at every ground every week, but worth a try,

[wellsince75]

I think it’s the best thing that ever happened to improve the modern game …

said no one ever !

 

[FirParkCornerExile]

If we bin VAR we will have 20 errors in a game called wrong rather than 2 or 3. Whether folk like it or not VAR enables the correct decision to be called in 90% of occasions. However it takes far too long to arrive at the decisions. I would strictly enforce clear and obvious error. If a decision cant be called in 2 mins the onfield decision stands. Fans waiting 3/4/5/6 mins for a decision to be called is ridiculous. I would also adopt the English automated  tech for offside decisions rather than the cheapo version we have in Scotland. In England they just do not have the carry on we have looking at offside goals. 

[FirParkCornerExile]

1 hour ago, grizzlyg said:

It is not being used properly.......but is only ever an issue when it affects the old squirm

Correct when it came in it was to ensure "clear and obvious" errors were corrected. If it takes them over 2 mins to arrive at a decision its not clear and obvious. 

[weeyin]

1 hour ago, FirParkCornerExile said:

Correct when it came in it was to ensure "clear and obvious" errors were corrected. If it takes them over 2 mins to arrive at a decision its not clear and obvious. 

That's my biggest gripe, and I have many when it comes to VAR.

If they stick with it, let the ref make the call. Give VAR 20 or 30 seconds to review if needed. Can't tell? Then it wasn't clear and obvious, so move on.

 

[Mad Dog]

39 minutes ago, weeyin said:

That's my biggest gripe, and I have many when it comes to VAR.

If they stick with it, let the ref make the call. Give VAR 20 or 30 seconds to review if needed. Can't tell? Then it wasn't clear and obvious, so move on.

 

That's more like it; two minutes is still way too long.

[andalg]

16 hours ago, FirParkCornerExile said:

Correct when it came in it was to ensure "clear and obvious" errors were corrected. If it takes them over 2 mins to arrive at a decision its not clear and obvious. 

When it comes to offside its a factual decision You are either onside or offside so they spend forever to prove it.  If the referee/linesman has given the wrong decision then that by definition is a clear and obvious error regardless of time taken.  I think the offside rule needs changed to daylight rather than toenail 

[texanwellfan]

2 hours ago, andalg said:

When it comes to offside its a factual decision You are either onside or offside so they spend forever to prove it.  If the referee/linesman has given the wrong decision then that by definition is a clear and obvious error regardless of time taken.  I think the offside rule needs changed to daylight rather than toenail 

I’m sure if they sat down for a bit they could reword the offside law to enable quick VAR decisions. 
Another area needing some focus is handball decisions and again I think if they put their heads together they could come up with a quick checklist for VAR team. Just a few questions with yes or no answers. Perhaps you need all answers to be yes or maybe if any answer is yes then it’s a penalty. 
Third area than can affect a game in a big way is red and yellow cards. This one might be the hardest to resolve and I’m not sure how we get around that. 
  Not VAR but Last point is my current pet hate and not sure if rules have changed or not but apparently refs just ignore the obstruction rule now as players get away with jumping if front of opposing players, well away from playing distance of the ball, and don’t get penalized. Seems to have started happening in the last year or two. 

[weeyin]

The problem with offside is the rule hasn't kept up with VAR. It was originally designed to prevent goal-hanging, but evolved over the years.

I can't imagine any of the original lawmakers intended for goals to be disallowed because the attacker's little toe was a centimetre front of a defender's little toe. Their needs to be some leeway there - although I imagine that would be misinterpreted too.

To keep things fair, I'd always be giving the benefit of the doubt to attackers in offside situations and the benefit of the doubt to defenders in the handball situations.