Refs & VAR 2020/2021 Discussion

[UncleBob]

The most marginal calls are eliminated under this system. That doesn't mean there will be no tight calls though. There still has to be a point where offside becomes onside, however narrowly, because that's how offside works.

The key thing with the above is that in the actual image they used to judge the offside (rather than the one you posted) Lukaku is offside beyond the MOE. They have to use the first image where there has definitely been contact with the ball and that was deemed to be the below. Obviously that then comes down to the inaccuracy of frame rates but then that's partly why they have the MOE.

1: The picture of Lukaku is pretty much the very definition of offsides that has annoyed fans of the PL since VAR was introduced. The tip and outside of Lukakus boot is how many cm offside?

2: The wording is wrong. What they are doing, and what the PL will be doing next season, is increase the error of margin so that it will be more pleasing on the eye. It doesn't, in any way, eliminate marginal calls, but it should mean that the marginal calls that have been viewed as offside will be onside under the new revision. Essentially you might be allowed to be 8cm offside, but you're still arguing if it's 8cm or 8,1.

 

[sullydnl]

1: The picture of Lukaku is pretty much the very definition of offsides that has annoyed fans of the PL since VAR was introduced. The tip and outside of Lukakus boot is how many cm offside?

2: The wording is wrong. What they are doing, and what the PL will be doing next season, is increase the error of margin so that it will be more pleasing on the eye. It doesn't, in any way, eliminate marginal calls, but it should mean that the marginal calls that have been viewed as offside will be onside under the new revision. Essentially you might be allowed to be 8cm offside, but you're still arguing if it's 8cm or 8,1.

In the frame they actually used, Lukaku is offside beyond the margin of error. In the Dutch League at least that MOE is 10cm, as they stick with the onfield decision when the two 5cm lines touch. We've seen many narrower calls than this in the PL.

There's not much more they can do to improve things further until semi-automated offsides are introduced over the next couple of years. Wherever you have a line, you will have decisions that fall just outside it. That won't change while you have an offside rule. You're either off or on, wherever the line is and you will have marginal calls wherever the line is.

The point of this change isn't that it stops there ever being a close offside. It's that it greatly reduces the amount of offsides that get VAR'd, reduces delays and makes the most objectionable calls like the below a thing of the past. All of which makes VAR far quicker and less intrusive.

 

[Mb194dc]

Wenger offside law trial now!

People say it'll ruin high lines, maybe but I think you'll find the advantages of playing high still outweigh negative. Even with attacker half metre advantage.

Will be lots more goals and will reward more attacking teams and help counter attacks

 

[P-Ro]

Do they add on extra time for all the attacks they allow play out when a player is clearly offside in the build up? It seems this alone wastes a couple of minutes a game.

 

[Bastian]

Has there been anything to indicate that there will be some review on how it was used and how they can dramatically fix it for the coming season? Any acknowledgement that it's been far too inconsistent and corrupting the integrity of the game?