Tag: VAR

‘Clear and obvious should be clear and obvious’ – Spirit star Sullivan decries long VAR checks

There were in incredible 13 minutes of first-half stoppage time in Sunday’s game

Frustration is mounting across the NWSL early in the season, as some VAR reviews drag on for what seems like an eternity.

Among those who are growing weary is U.S. women’s national team and Washington Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan, who saw her side’s game against the Utah Royals ground to a halt on multiple occasions.

Three VAR reviews throughout the game slowed the play considerably at Audi Field on Sunday. There were an incredible 13 minutes of stoppage time in the first half, with one of the reviews taking place on a fairly obvious Spirit penalty that Sullivan would eventually convert.

After a game her side won 2-1, Sullivan told reporters that while she’s grateful for the presence of video technology in the NWSL, there needs to be a concerted effort toward eliminating lengthy reviews.

“Obviously we’re glad about VAR being in the league,” the midfielder said. “But I think we need to figure out a way to make it a little more efficient. I especially think clear and obvious should be clear and obvious and it shouldn’t take a long time to decide if something is clear and obvious.

“But obviously I’m not in the booth, I don’t know the demands of that job so I shouldn’t really speak too much on that.”

On her penalty, she added: “It was a very clear penalty. I don’t really feel like that needs to be checked or checked very long. And I felt like it could have been checked by the time I had set up the first time, so I was a little frustrated about that.”

Sullivan said that the frequent stoppages for VAR checks means that teams have to figure out ways to make the breaks work to their advantage.

“We’ve definitely discussed as a team about how to manage those moments, especially when it’s taking a while and then when the ref has to go find the camera,” she said.

“So are there moments where we can come over to the sideline and just regroup? For me I reset because it had just been so long, so I needed to run through the routine again. It’s a new part of the game and we have to recognize it’s going to be a part of it, so we have to figure out different ways and techniques of handling that.”

On Friday night, Chicago Red Stars head coach Lorne Donaldson echoed Sullivan’s point, but did so in slightly more blunt fashion.

“If it takes that long to make a damn decision, then there’s no decision,” Donaldson said.

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NFL-style VAR explanations are coming to the Women’s World Cup

Explanations will be broadcast on television and to in-person fans through the stadium’s loudspeaker

Referees at the 2023 Women’s World Cup will announce VAR decisions to television viewers and fans at stadiums through loudspeakers, FIFA confirmed on Wednesday.

At a press briefing, FIFA said that the new system — which has been used at the Club World Cup in Morocco and the U-20 World Cup in Argentina — will now be used at a tier-one tournament for the first time.

The system is designed to improve transparency around VAR decisions. In February, chairman of FIFA’s referee committee Pierluigi Collina said that the NFL was an inspiration for the new implementation.

“We decided to have this trial because we received some requests to make the decision taken by the referee after a VAR intervention more understandable for all the football stakeholders, namely the spectators at the stadium, or in front of the television,” Collina said.

“I have to say that there are other experiences in other sports, namely the NFL in American football, who have been doing this for quite a long time. It seems that the referees are pretty comfortable with this.”

The on-field referee will wear a microphone and explain VAR decisions after they have been made, with those explanations broadcast on television and to in-person fans through the stadium’s loudspeaker.

It’s expected that referees will only explain the decision itself, rather than the decision-making process behind it.

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NWSL Weekend Take-Off: Thorns imperious, VAR off to a rocky start

Tactics, VAR controversy, and spicy quotes? NWSL’s not wasting any time

The NWSL is back for 2023, and immediately produced a characteristic mix of quality play (we see you, Portland Thorns), strangeness, and controversy.

Pro Soccer Wire will be bringing this look at one aspect from every game to you every Tuesday throughout the season. Great goals? Tactical nuance? Spicy quotes? It might be week one for NWSL teams, but there’s so much to tackle. We saw the return of some banter between old rivals, several glorious goals, a total change in system from one team, and VAR’s debut resulting in a pivotal call.

Without further adieu, let’s dive into the takes:

2022 World Cup: What are the VAR rules?

A quick look at how VARs work.

The World Cup Qatar 2022 regulation guide allows for video assistance referees (VARs) to be used for match-changing decisions or incidents, so fans should expect to see these replay officials interject when most necessary.

In order to know how and when a VAR steps in, it’s necessary to look at The International Football Association Board (IFAB) “Laws of the Game,” which establishes the protocols used by the World Cup and other soccer competitions.

According to the laws, the VAR is a match official with independent access to match footage who can assist the match referee in the event of a clear and obvious error or serious missed incident in relation to:

  • goal/no goals decisions
  • penalty kick/no penalty kick
  • direct red cards (not second yellow card/caution)
  • instances of mistaken identity (a referee cautions or sends off the wrong player)

VAR reviews can only be initiated by a game referee, though the VAR and other match officials can recommend a review to the referee. And a VAR can’t be used before the referee makes a call on the field first.

Everything in regards to the play being reviewed by a VAR will be checked, eliminating the need for coaches or players to request a review. And there is no time limit on a VAR review.

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Tunden al VAR por favorecer al América en la derrota contra Toluca

Toluca se llevó ventaja, pero casi había liquidado la serie de no ser por la mala actuación del cuerpo arbitral

Nuevamente el América se encuentra inmiscuido en una polémica arbitral y es que la derrota de ayer 2-1 ante Toluca en la ida de la semifinal del Apertura 2022 estuvo llena de decisiones contradictorias de los silbantes.

El América no se encontró, dejó de ser en Toluca el equipo efectivo que comandó el campeonato y pese a dominar el control del esférico, no lo hizo con el control del partido que le perteneció a Toluca en una jugada maestra de Nacho Ambriz que le ganó la partida a Fernando Ortiz.

Toluca aprovechó dos errores muy puntuales de la defensiva americanista para irse al frente en el marcador. Primero tras una pésima salida de Guillermo Ochoa que regaló el primer gol del partido y segundo tras un penal inocente de Emilio Lara que cambió por gol Leo Fernández.

Pero el marcador estuvo 3-0 a favor del Toluca de no ser por el VAR que empezó su show arbitral anulando una anotación por supuesto fuera de lugar en una jugada muy apretada donde la toma de televisión está demasiado esquinada para precisar la posición de los jugadores.

Sin embargo el mismo criterio fue utilizado en favor del América en el gol del propio Lara cerca del final cuando las Águilas apretaban a los choriceros en busca del descuento. No fue Emilio Lara el que estaba adelantado sino Henry Martin que fue quien asistió al joven azulcrema.

Por si fuera poco el VAR ni siquiera revisó una patada bastante artera en el rostro de Thiago Volpi que ameritaba al menos una revisión en el monitor pero ni siquiera eso sucedió, cuando hemos visto expulsiones esta misma temporada en jugadas muy similares, o bien hace un año en esta instancia semifinal cuando a Juan Ignacio Dinenno de Pumas lo expulsan por una patada menos agresiva que la del propio Martin.

Toluca se llevó ventaja, pero casi había liquidado la serie de no ser por la mala actuación del cuerpo arbitral que no se atrevió a marcar lo que era justo, le pese a quien le pese.

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Christian Pulisic explains why he’s ‘never been a fan’ of VAR

“I don’t think people realize how much emotions swing in games”

Christian Pulisic is not a fan of VAR.

The U.S. men’s national team and Chelsea star has spoken out against the technology in an excerpt from his upcoming book “Christian Pulisic: My Journey So Far,” which will be available for purchase on October 18.

Pulisic was interviewed shortly after the USMNT lost 2-0 at Canada in a World Cup qualifier in January. CONCACAF introduced VAR ahead of that three-game window after previously not featuring the technology in earlier World Cup qualifiers.

But Pulisic didn’t feel the introduction had much effect. The winger was repeatedly fouled during the match in Hamilton, Ontario, and felt that more should have been done to protect him and his teammates.

Questions from author Daniel Melamud are in italic.

Pulisic on VAR

VAR technology has just been introduced to the World Cup qualifying matches; are you happy about that?

Before I would have said yes for CONCACAF, because I’ve seen some things in CONCACAF that I’ve never seen elsewhere in the way things are handled.

But after this window, specifically in that Canada game, they simply refused to look at certain plays and use it when there were clear and obvious situations when they should. What’s the point if you’re not going to use it? If it’s available and there are obvious foul plays, potential red cards, and they simply don’t use it, I just don’t really understand it.

There were so many heavy challenges and what clearly looked like fouls in that game that weren’t called.

Yeah, I’ve never been a fan of VAR, to be honest, but I thought it could potentially help in these games in CONCACAF, which can be quite physical with a lot of crazy tackles and fouls. But I feel like they didn’t use it to the extent that they could.

And you haven’t been a fan of VAR because it’s disruptive?

Having VAR affects the rhythm of the game. Technology can be really helpful as far as goal-line technology, for example, or making big decisions on whether a card needs changing from a yellow to a red. But at times with VAR, it seems like so many people are unsure about what’s going on, and it can take and change so much emotion in the game.

For example, when you score a goal and then it takes five minutes to get checked, the celebrations are just off; it can be really frustrating to the players. I don’t think people realize how much emotions swing in games and momentum can change in those moments.

You can pre-order “Christian Pulisic: My Journey So Far” right here.

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Chelsea can thank their lucky VAR for their win over West Ham

West Ham’s late equalizer was ruled out in a decision Declan Rice called “an absolute disgrace”

Chelsea beat West Ham 2-1 on Saturday, as the Blues were beneficiaries of a late decision that Hammers manager David Moyes branded as “scandalous.”

Kai Havertz gave Chelsea a late lead with an 88th-minute goal but West Ham appeared to have equalized minutes later when Maxwel Cornet found the back of the net after Édouard Mendy came for the ball and was unable to secure it.

But referee Andy Madley was sent to the monitor by VAR Jarred Gillet and deemed Jarrod Bowen to have fouled Mendy in the build-up.

It was, to say the least, a questionable decision, with Mendy coming out and sliding in front of Bowen, who clipped the goalkeeper with his foot as he went over him.

Moyes and Rice slam decision

Moyes was furious with the call after the game, telling the BBC: “It was a scandalous decision — incredible. The goalkeeper spills it, it comes out of his hands about five yards, actually acts like he’s got a sore shoulder because he couldn’t recover the ball, and the referee gave the goal.

“I don’t know who sent him to VAR, but whoever did should get well looked at, as well as the referee.”

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice added: “I can’t say too much because if I say what I think I’ll get fined, but how can you go over to the monitor and call that a foul? It’s an absolute disgrace.”

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VAR desata nueva polémica en derrota de Cruz Azul ante Toluca

El partido sirvió además de debut de Ramiro Funes Mori, defensor argentino que ya jugó y marcó su primer gol en la Liga MX.

Nuevamente el VAR fue protagonista de mala manera en el duelo entre Cruz Azul y Toluca pues con mucha polémica sancionó un penal en los minutos finales de Sebastián Jurado que les costó la derrota.

Un pisotón del guardameta sobre Haret Ortega desató la polémica pues hasta el propio Diego Aguirre se fue a revisar la jugada e el VAR parado detrás de la cabina lo que ocasionó su expulsión.

A Jurado también lo expulsaron y Bacca y Rivero terminaron amonestados y como Cruz Azul ya había agotado sus cambios, el portero suplente Jesús Corona no pudo ingresar y fue Juan Escobar el que se puso los guantes.

El partido sirvió además de debut de Ramiro Funes Mori, defensor argentino que ya jugó y marcó su primer gol en la Liga MX.

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This may have been the finest moment in VAR history

For at least one day, we can all agree that a VAR review was a welcome development

VAR isn’t always the most popular part of the game. But in an Argentinian league match on Wednesday, the oft-maligned technology produced perhaps the finest moment in its history.

The scene: Midway through the second half with Lanús and Vélez tied, Vélez defender Francisco Ortega is shielding the ball from Lanús forward Mateo Sanabria.

Suddenly, Ortega loses his cool. He shoves Sanabria in the chest and the young forward, naturally, makes the most of it by rolling around on the ground clutching his face.

Referee Luis Lobo Medina shows Ortega a yellow card but, all of a sudden, he hears something in his ear from the video official. There’s something he needs to check out.

And after a video review, there it is: Subtly, almost too fast for the human eye to see, Sanabria can be seen reaching under Ortega and … grabbing him in exactly the place he would not want to be grabbed.

Medina goes back to the pitch. Red card for Sanabria. Justice.

And, for one day at least, everyone can agree that VAR got the job done right.

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¡Por fin! Segunda vuelta de eliminatoria en Concacaf va con VAR

Esperemos que la polémica arbitral disminuya y la segunda parte de la eliminatoria sea justa

Una buena noticia para la Concacaf, las seis jornadas restantes de la eliminatoria rumbo a Qatar 2022 se jugarán con la ayuda del VAR arbitral.

Concacaf, junto a África y Oceanía eran las únicas confederaciones que no estaban utilizando la asistencia de la tecnología en video para el arbitraje.

Pero las limitaciones terminaron, FIFA acaba de renovar gafetes a los silbantes autorizados para utilizar el VAR y entregó nuevos a silbantes centroamericanos, luego de que solo los mexicanos, estadounidenses y canadienses tenían la certificación al utilizar la tecnología en sus ligas.

Esto significa que habrá VAR en Concacaf para las seis jornadas restantes luego de la polémica que se ha generado en la eliminatoria en jugadas decisivas que no han sido sancionadas con buen criterio.

Una empresa será la encargada de proveer de VAR a los estadios donde no se cuenta con la tecnología en Honduras, Jamaica, El Salvador, Costa Rica y Panamá por lo que todas las sedes estarían cubiertas con la ayuda arbitral.

Esperemos que la polémica arbitral disminuya y la segunda parte de la eliminatoria sea justa, pues será decisiva para definir los tres pases directos y el cuarto sitio que va al repechaje.

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