16 Jul 2018 08:07:41
Ed001, If you watched the World Cup Final yesterday and other things permitting, was wondering if you could do a match review of the same.
Thank you.

{Ed001's Note - I really didn't watch it that closely mate, gave up on it completely when the ref only gave 3 min stoppage time at the end of the first half despite stopping the game for nearly 5 minutes for the joke that is VAR to interfere. After a terrible decision to gift France a free kick for a dive, followed by not using VAR as it should have been used to disallow the goal for an offside (and a foul on Mandzukic by the offside player), then using it incorrectly to award France a penalty, there was little point watching as it was clear FIFA had already decided the winner before kick off.}


1.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 08:21:15
Thanks Ed001 for that review of sorts, I guess.

{Ed001's Note - sorry mate, best I can do, there was too much editing to sit and watch it properly.}


2.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 08:26:17
Tell us what you really think Ed! Got to agree, VAR is a bit of a joke, if I had my way, I'd be happy for using goal line technology only and limiting replays of contentious decisions to keep the keyboard warriors and idiotic journalists at bay.

{Ed001's Note - it would be better if it was just used as they said it would be used. It was supposed to be for clear and obvious errors by the ref. They needed nearly 5 minutes of looking over the replays again and again to come to a decision that it was a penalty, even then the ref needed to be called back for another look as he walked away. Is that clear and obvious? If it is as hotly disputed as that one was, then it is not clear, nor is it obvious that the ref made a mistake. The clear and obvious error was the linesman not spotting the offside on the first goal but they ignored that. It was as close to match fixing as you could get without raising questions, the way it was used. The whole world cup was abysmal anyway, so it was no real surprise that the final was last.}


3.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 08:27:53
Ed

FIFA introduce VAR and I bet they were over the moon when they had a chance to use it in the final.

However - I wouldn't put the mistake down to the VAR - the referee saw what we all saw but decided handball was deliberate.

Terrible officiating.

{Ed001's Note - no he didn't, the VAR officials decided it was deliberate and called the play back. He had decided to wave play on. The mistake was 100% on VAR. The ref even had to be called back a second time, how is that not VAR's error?}


4.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 08:30:23
Totally agree Ed001. VAR is finished for me after it failed so spectacularly on the biggest stage. In the instance, it was the Beast killed the Beauty.

{Ed001's Note - not so sure there was much in the way of any beauty in that world cup anyway.}


5.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 08:42:53
Thank God I thought I was being cynical when I said it was staged for France to win VAR has been misused by officials in this world cup and last night in my opinion is that football cannot be trusted wityit.


6.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 08:44:56
Ed001 your so right it was pis poor World Cup with terrible decisions through out just makes me realise why I don’t like international football which is odd as it should be the pinnacle just can’t get up for it at all it’s just not the same as watching Liverpool playing it really isn’t.
Up the pool.

{Ed001's Note - it is sad really, they keep making changes which just make it worse each time.}


7.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 08:47:31
Completely in agreement with you both Ed/ MK.


8.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 08:48:15
VAR has turned from a very good idea when used on a very limited range of issues as a light touch, last resort corrector to just another way to punish underdogs by making sure you pull them up on everything whilst refusing to look at the favourites.


9.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 09:06:13
My position hasn't changed, the technology is fine and will improve the game but I can't understand the implementation, it's almost like they want it to fail.

{Ed001's Note - and I agree, the problem is purely with the implementation.}


10.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 09:38:43
That’s exactly how I felt about the game Ed001, the ref was awful and he gave France a two goal head start. Still, as long as FIFA are happy.

{Ed001's Note - of course they were, their favoured team won.}


11.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 09:41:04
Sorry Ed

I meant that in other games the VAR has told the official to have a look - and the official has stuck with the original decision
VAR doesn't over-rule the wrong so apologies in advance if I am, cannot make him change his mind?

therefore, IMO, if he had anything about him he would have said - "not deliberate" - I'm staying with the original decision.

{Ed001's Note - well he tried, he walked away after viewing it and got called back to take another look. If you ask me he was not given an option. He certainly didn't look like he wanted to give it.}


12.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 09:57:55
great triumph for FIFA - VAR affects outcome of WC Final

as an aside - do they look at every decision? Griezmann dive for free kick as an example - there is a stoppage in play and with free kicks from that far out where you can create a goal scoring chance - surely they should?


13.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 09:59:02
Way way to much influence on var. Seems they do what they want. What about kompants leg breaker in the box on Jesus, clear pen. Not even given a replay.


14.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 12:14:35
VAR lost the battle but it will win the war. Nothing wrong with it in principle and has improved things already, in some ways. It just needs tweaking. The implementation of it needs sorting a bit, and like yesterday, the reviewers need to learn to look back in real time a bit more and view the second or two leading up to the incident, not just the quarter of a second that it happens, but i was thoroughly impressed with it overall. I didn't think it would work, but I was wrong. It's still in its infancy so a couple more years of seeing what works and what doesn't and we'll forget all about whether it was a good idea to introduce it in the first place. Have patience people.


15.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 12:40:15
Interesting take on it and I have wondered this all tournament. Is VAR being introduced to football with a front of being to get every decision correct, but in reality of a way for the powers that be to have more control on certain outcomes without it being suspicious to the general fan?

I’ve always wondered who are the people in the VAR room, it’s not completely unimaginable that one of the senior members of the team could be an agent helping the game go a certain direction. Real shame if it’s true.


16.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 14:00:15
I agree with ed here

When the ref walked away i think he wasnt going to give it then when he got called back he was shown an ultra slow motion version of the ball hitting the hand.

If he had any doubt he should not have awarded it.

That match got my blood boiling. It was obvious croatia were never going to win no matter what they did.

Corruption at its finest. No one will convince me otherwise.

First goal was a joke. The ref was right there and still gave the free kick. It was poor defending after but the free kick should never have been given.

Where was var on the free kick? That was more of a clear and obvious error than the penality.

France should have had about 3 yellow cards in first half too that wernt handed out.

Croatia might still not have won had they even scored first but they at least deserved a level playing field which they were clearly never going to get judging by the way the match was officiated.

The corruption in fifa is stinking. Makes u actually hate football a little.

Rant over.


17.) 16 Jul 2018
16 Jul 2018 15:51:53
I’m glad someone else noticed the offside ed. Couldn’t believe no one was mentioning it. It wasn’t even considered! I don’t like to cry match fixing but that was poor.

{Ed001's Note - especially when you have VAR available which is supposed to check offsides....}