Liverpool went top of the Premier League after beating Burnley on Boxing Day despite two controversial refereeing decisions.
Two other Premier League rivals – VAR, PGMOL and referees – are in the spotlight after controversial calls in a match involving Manchester City and Arsenal. It never stays long.Asked at a pre-Newcastle United press conference whether the authorities should be “brave” about VAR, the journalist said: “I don’t think it’s getting any better.” Jurgen Klopp was reluctant to do so. . Do whatever it takes to avoid headlines.
However, the German made some comments.Klopp replied: “I don’t think I have to answer that question. It leaves me too much time to use my own sentences.” “We could talk more, but we already know and the authorities probably know too. What does it mean that they should be brave? “Leave him alone,” the reporter replied. “My God, get rid of VAR?” Klopp has spoken and his reaction tells you all you need to know. “No, I would recommend using VAR. I think it’s probably the right thing to do and we can do that.” This indicates the nature of the problem and what needs to happen next.
Removing existing systems to avoid mistakes is not the path to improvement, nor is simply using existing technologies. There is a way.
The first thing we need to change is the formulation of rules that have absolutely nothing to do with VAR. Although Paul Tierney was criticized after setting up Harvey Elliott’s goal against Burnley, he was legally right to disallow it (another goal disallowed by Cody Gakpo should have been far more controversial). We simply changed the way the rules were written. If a player (in this case Mohamed Salah) is pushed into an offside position, Elliott’s goal will be disallowed, even if it is not enough to foul the attacker.
It seems an easier conclusion than an endless debate about whether the decision was right or wrong or made no sense. When VAR was first introduced, there was a school of thought that feared there wouldn’t be enough left to talk about. Because it can prevent major refereeing errors. Instead, we often talk about the lack of tolerance for civil servants and other groups because they deserve a second chance to do things right.
However, decisions are often subjective. Because the rules of the game cannot cover all outcomes, almost all decisions can be debated two ways to some extent. Scenarios often arise that we have never seen before.Willie Boley’s second yellow card at Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago was wrong, but the contact seen by referee Rob Jones after the game showed it. Another simple change to VAR that could stop this error would be to allow him to review errors that lead to a second yellow card.
This is honestly a consideration for the future. Referees don’t want to do away with technology, but the way they use it could be improved. Klopp – and perhaps other Premier League managers – would certainly welcome this. But there is one more thing we need to change. So are the referees and the rules of the game. Football is now so tribal that in some places nothing is seen as wrong. The word “corruption” has suddenly become fashionable around the Premier League.
That Everton, who admitted their mistake, were given a penalty so small it had nothing to do with their first relegation in three seasons is not corruption.In the match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool, when a penalty kick was wrongly disallowed and another penalty rightly awarded, it was not “corruption” and the home fans threw the C-word in protest at Selhurst Park is an example. decision. In the end it turned out to be true. Jordan Ayew’s red card was a foolish risk and referee Andy Madley should have given the blame to the criticized player.
Constructive dialogue about VAR is both useful and essential. Change is needed in the way technology is used and used, but change is still needed because referees are not perfect and never will be. Klopp’s reaction to the press conference sums it up well, but as long as the wider mood around the Premier League remains calm and sane and willing to address the subject, this may not be a problem.
