Over the weekend, so-called “video-assisted referees” (or VAR) made a major mistake in the Liverpool-Tottenham match that denied Liverpool a goal, which proved to be the difference in the match. It was not the first error made by VAR — Sky Sports has documented 14 instances of VAR errors in the Premier League over just the past 2 seasons, for which an apology was later issued […]
Part of the application of technology to refereeing games is about reducing the uncertainty in judgments, but another part is about legitimacy; that is, the general acceptance of referee judgments and the overall integrity of competition. Technology, it turns out, presents challenges to legitimacy and the key to preserving legitimacy. Let me explain.
Anyone who says keep imperfect umpires in place hasn’t watched MLB umpire Angel Hernandez work a game behind the plate.
I’m ready…bring it on.
He can’t even do the bases properly, witness him at 3rd last week.
14 instances out of how many did they review? (given that’s it’s metric football, the answer could be 14) How many errors were there that didn’t generate an apology?
Seems like it’d be better used for scoring flopping than goals if the error rate is high enough.
Flopping has been elevated to an art form. In these events, game stoppage is not ideal, but the post game review should lend itself to draconian and merciless retribution with extended suspensions, fines, and, if a score resulted, reduced strength in succeeding matches. If a player flops, flop the team.
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Re offsides. The change to “even is on” (1990, 2005) seriously compromises the whole purpose of the rule and shifts a heavier burden upon the official to discern relative location at the moment the ball is struck (advanced). Well trained linesmen maintain a vigilant vertical alignment with the second defender and listen for the “thup” to frame the moment for judgement. Noisy crowds and more distant passes are sometimes a challenge. Not so much with the pre 1990 rendition.
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VARS goal footage was improperly reviewed during the women’s world cup this year in the game eliminating the US. If the ball is tangent to the boundry line the ball is in play. VARS graphic was massaged after the game ended.
Flopping in the PA in order to induce a PK has all but been eliminated. An immediate yellow card is issued and players who do this endure immediate scorn and derision from the opponents. It just doesn’t happen that much any more. Now … exaggerating a foul on the open field is something else. But for the most part, Referees are advised to “let em play” and not to blow the whistle just because someone falls down. As a result a LOT of legitimate fouls are allowed to go unpunished. It is a human ART FORM for a Referee to strike just the right balance. And the players will let you know it. When the players accept the Referees rulings … you know you are calling the game pretty damn good.
However … you must be unaware that the balls now have sensors in them and the “thump” that a good Linesman used to hear is now perfectly, electronically, established. The offside lines are drawn from the INSTANT the ball is struck. THAT part of technology works perfectly … as do the sensors that establish whether the whole of the ball crosses the goal line … again electronic sensors give perfect results.
The offside judgements come down to whether a players fingertip is extending past the second to last defender. THAT requires a HUMAN to determine … and has become somewhat ridiculous as not even a hangnail can extend offside. And then there’s the issue of a teammate clearly in an offside position … but not “interfering with play” … THAT is another HUMAN judgement that electronics cannot determine.
LOL WrestleMania doesn’t have as much acting going on in a match as a European soccer game.
Color me shocked that you don’t like professional sport.
One of the things that has made the hawkeye system so successful in tennis is the accepted deferral of legitimacy to the technology. The system has the last word on any and all challenged line calls. Observers believe that what they’re seeing on the big screen is a real image of where the tennis ball landed when in fact it’s a technology derived image based on camera inputs fed to a computer model. On average, it is more accurate than the human line judge, but what makes the system work is everyone accepts the verdict. It’s interesting that the system isn’t used on clay courts where the ball leaves an actual mark on the court where it hits. Deploying a video system under such circumstances would only point out its fallibility.
As an Arsenal fan … I’m not particularly aggrieved that Liverpool got screwed by a VAR “judgement” … because VAR (review of all the replay aids available) is done by a FIFA licensed Referee off the field. VAR is operated by humans, and humans make mistakes. Humans (yes, SHOCK … even Referees) have bias. Lord knows Arsenal have been on the wrong side of Referee human error … and bias.
The whiny Liverpool pundits are conveniently forgetting the Laws of the Game which clearly states if your play endangers the safety of another player … you get RED Carded … and you’re done. Liverpool’s Curtis Jones could easily have snapped Yves Bissouma‘s ankle in half with a horrific high tackle … he was sent off … and Liverpool were playing with 10 (not 11) . Tottenham scored in the last second of extra time to win … by an own goal. Perhaps Liverpool should simply take their medicine and move on.
https://i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/article27819400.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_curtisjones1.jpg
The mistake is its measurable.. Just to keep it fair is why we invented scales and thumbs in the first place.. Behind every computer program and sensor is a thumb.. That’s always deeply sorry they were caught..
Liverpool were deservedly beaten for stupid players getting two yellow cards and, well, being Liverpool.
Despite my being your bitter London rival … kudos to Spurs for pounding away at the Liverpool Defense. Kulusevski is returning to FINE form this season. Superb player