The refs have been pretty good so far. They began in a way where a lot of the 'easy fouls' players buy by just falling over under very little pressure have often been ignored by refs, waved away. This is a good thing as its a blight on the game now and something that has been reinforced by the EPL use of VAR where any contact is accepted as a foul.
There have been a few obvious moments of "respecting the big players" in refs decision making and the MBappe penalty was one such moment last night. Never ever in a million years a penalty and the ref was,IMO, influenced by the fact it was mega world superstar MBappe . Pretty sure that few others would get such a soft decision.
What is interesting is the use of VAR. To most i think we will have enjoyed the 'lighter touch' of this tournament compared to what happens in the league every week. But i think its a bit of an unfair comparison.
What is good and what the EPL should seek to add to our game is that the "Clear & Obvious" test is very apparent. So many fouls are subjective and if it could have gone either way then let the ref make a call. That seems to be how its happened this tournament.
I think it failed in the MBappe pen last night as the ref. should have been given a chance to look at it again. I can also think of the penalty Denmark won (& missed) against Finalnd, the English ref. It was very very soft and he also should have been called to the monitor but i have not seen too many others. It seems to be a much better application of VAR than in the prem.
The difficulty is that a league season is very different While we all support our team we are also wary of our rivals and what decisions they may be getting in their favour. The whole VAR situation is micro-analysed by fans and pundits multiple times every week for a whole season. We are less invested in the Euros. I didnt really care about the MBappe decision but felt it was wrong. If that was a Spurs rival 'getting a leg up' from the ref then I would care a lot more.
I think the way it's been used in the EPL has conditioned us to an expectation that every tiny thing gets checked, any tiny contact gets referred to the TV monitor or given as a foul. This is probably not how most fans want it to operate, but they also do not want to miss out on decision that may just go in their favour.
I want the prem refs to start to ignore the soft fouls a lot more, its just creating a culture of contact and fall, made easier by their audible screams of fake pain in empty stadiums. I also want the lighter touch VAR and fans will need to begin to accept that the refs are back making the decisions and getting the benefit of the doubt and only very obvious errors are looked at again. Fans also need to accept that not all contact means a foul has occurred, decisions are subjective and opinions will differ.
VAR & Referees at the Euros
posted on 24/6/21
I think the overseas referees and VAR officials have been excellent throughout the tournament really. That's not to say the English one's haven't either, but I hope this is an experience the English referee's and VAR officials can take back with them and then consult with the relevant people and say "we need x,y and z to change and that will improve the standard in the country."
posted on 24/6/21
Get rid of VAR. Leave it to the ref. A good ref does not need VAR.
posted on 24/6/21
comment by ● Billy The Yidd ● 2020* 2021* ENIC OUT! (U3924)
posted 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
There was an awful decision last night when Penandes raked his boot down the back of a France players calf in the last minute, which was possibly inside the box also.
It was a clear foul, but was not given by the on field referee and ignored by VAR.
This is just one instance where justice was not done. We will never eliminate benefit of doubt from decision making, it is all a matter of opinion.
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Agreed. Many of us felt that way. I felt for Hungary, but it would not have altered their status even if France had won at that point. However this incident rather negates the trust we all have for an impartial VAR. Rolando and Benzema walking of the pitch arm in arm full of smiles further encouraged the idea of some pre match collusion.
This last ignored foul was more deserving of a penalty than the three allowed previously. so I want know why it was ignored by the ref and passed over by supreme justice VAR... swept under the carpet of elitist convenience.
posted on 24/6/21
*Ronaldo
posted on 24/6/21
comment by ● Billy The Yidd ● 2020* 2021* ENIC OUT! (U3924)
posted 4 hours, 54 minutes ago
There was an awful decision last night when Penandes raked his boot down the back of a France players calf in the last minute, which was possibly inside the box also.
It was a clear foul, but was not given by the on field referee and ignored by VAR.
This is just one instance where justice was not done. We will never eliminate benefit of doubt from decision making, it is all a matter of opinion.
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Shambles last night - think they realised the Lloris one was dubious so they gave the Mbappe one which was worse so in an attempt to further even it up they turned down the calf raking.
Another thing why was nobody booked when the Portuguese were hounding him during the Mbappe decision - yes, looking at you, Pepe? In fact, I'd just book Pepe every game before he takes the field.
I digress, another thing - during that episode why was Ronaldo nowhere to be seen? Did he realise it makes no difference? Did he just leave it to the others? If he felt so strongly why was he not pulling the others away? Is he only captain for the glory bits?
posted on 24/6/21
The Spanish ref, Lahoz from last nights game is retiring after the Euros. Mustn’t be a fan of VAR himself. I’d assume, it’s perhaps sped up his retirement plans.
posted on 24/6/21
comment by ● Billy The Yidd ● 2020* 2021* ENIC OUT! (U3924)
posted 5 hours, 40 minutes ago
There was an awful decision last night when Penandes raked his boot down the back of a France players calf in the last minute, which was possibly inside the box also.
It was a clear foul, but was not given by the on field referee and ignored by VAR.
This is just one instance where justice was not done. We will never eliminate benefit of doubt from decision making, it is all a matter of opinion.
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Yes Billy, I also noticed this. Imo it was more of a legitimate penalty kick than the other three that were given.
posted on 24/6/21
comment by TobyJanKaneobi (U15068)
posted 2 minutes ago
The Spanish ref, Lahoz from last nights game is retiring after the Euros. Mustn’t be a fan of VAR himself. I’d assume, it’s perhaps sped up his retirement plans.
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About time, he's a complete nob.
posted on 24/6/21
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 1 hour, 53 minutes ago
comment by TobyJanKaneobi (U15068)
posted 2 minutes ago
The Spanish ref, Lahoz from last nights game is retiring after the Euros. Mustn’t be a fan of VAR himself. I’d assume, it’s perhaps sped up his retirement plans.
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About time, he's a complete nob.
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This
posted on 25/6/21
I like Lahoz, he doesn't buy any of the players' moaning and groaning on the field at all and doesn't play the "cheap foul" rule either like we do in England.