The game is absolutely fucked when the most influential player on the pitch in most games is now the referee. If IFAB had any balls they’d introduce some bold changes.
- Remove any subjectivity from handball. If it hits your hand, it’s handball. However:
- Handballs in the box are indirect free kicks unless the ball is going on target (for which we’ll use Hawkeye because it’s fucking 2023 for fuck’s sake). No team should be given an almost certain goal just because the ball bounces off a defender’s fucking arm accidentally.
- Remove any subjectivity from offside. If a player is offside when the ball is played, stop play and restart with an indirect free kick. These arseholes cannot be trusted to apply ‘subjective’ offsides in a consistent way, so just delete the concept. Being in an offside position is now an offence.
- Bin VAR. Just bin it. If you remove all of the variables of split-second on-pitch perception from a subjective decision then all you’re left with is subjectivity. VAR introduces more scope for bias, not less. Keep semi-automated offside checks and goal-line technology but remove the fucking brain trust who sit in a room with access to 10,000 frames any of which can confirm the decision they want to make anyway.
Not sure who was more embarrassing LFC players for the 90 plus mins or this tosser ref and the morons on VAR.
- Handballs in the box are indirect free kicks unless the ball is going on target (for which we’ll use Hawkeye because it’s fucking 2023 for fuck’s sake). No team should be given an almost certain goal just because the ball bounces off a defender’s fucking arm accidentally.
And if a defender accidentally blocks a shot in the general direction of goal?
Is it on target?
Yes to free kicks inside the penalty area. It was exciting when then were introduced for back passes to the keeper but that virtually never happens now. Any excuse to make them a bit more common.
My preferred version of the offside rule is “if you’re in the 18 yard box, you’re interfering with play”. By your very presence you’re altering the movement of defenders and keepers and thus should be given offside.
I like your handball/on target idea. Kind of like LBW in cricket.
On target? What if you shot the ball like Carlos where it looks like it was going off target?
Well we’re talking about penalties and that was 40 yards from goal with no one in the penalty box. Cracking example other than that though.
Bold changes are needed sure but not these changes lol
VAR is a very complex problem for football. Its a great tool that I feel is being misused, having a whole VAR team of people between the tool and the ref is counterproducing. I agree automated offsides should exist, the same way goal line tech is used nowadays, and VAR should be at disposition of the ref, not only used when a VAR team calls the ref to check smth.
A usage similar to the NFL would be better imo
What team do you root for? Just wondering what your incentive is for this nonsensical rant.
Referees aren’t the most influential “player” on the pitch, except in super extreme cases (and whatever you’re upset about isn’t one of them). VAR hasn’t been applied perfectly, but it’s clearly a better solution to have instant replay than to just let mistakes happen on the field with no recourse. You’re somehow arguing that offsides and handballs should be applied as the referee initially sees it, so completely subjectively with no review, and then also saying you want more objectivity. I mean, which do you want? Referees making mistakes in the fast paced play or referees being able to check themselves after to make sure they got it right? Without even a sense of irony, you’re arguing that referees should be given more power and less power… presumably because your team had an offside or handball call in the most recent not go your way.
I mean… maybe everyone could just play without referees and everyone has to call fouls on the honor. That actually sounds like what you want. Which are the rankings of a ten year old.
even though i don’t agree everything with him i believe handball shouldn’t be subjective inside the box n should be given regardless if its intended or not
Rules need to be the same on Old Trafford and on the muddy pitch where the boys play Sunday League.
The game is absolutely fucked when the most influential player on the pitch in most games is now the referee.
When did you start watching the game? This has always been the case. The handball rules and offside have always been just as problematic.
Getting rid of VAR would be only make the referee more important and more powerful.