RateTheRef

While I think Oliver and Taylor come across well, Riley's management style seems to be a bit weak. The policy seems to be if there is enough people complaining then we will change it. While I think it is good to have an open approach and take in views from all areas of the game ultimately the PGMOL are supposed to be refereeing experts yet the approach to VAR seemed to be start off with minimum intervention and then see how people like it. The approach should have been set out with a clear philosophy and reasoning, to me it seems rather muddled and reactive.

While we might not agree with everything they do, the stronger management style of the likes of Rosetti and Collina is surely more desirable. If I was Mike Riley I would try and copy what happened at the EURO as closely as possible. To be fair, that is probably easier when you are dealing with the likes of Cakir rather than Jon Moss.

I've not seen but here is an article explaining what is and isn't handball

and an even better explanation from Kyros Vassaras! Although it is from Romanian TV he is speaking English.



If it fell into any he mentions as being a foul then VAR could intervene if they believe a penalty should have been awarded

Hypothetical but may not have ended up that way. Leeds v Everton, Leeds shout for a penalty for a 'foul' on Bamford in the last move of the game. Darren England waves it away (correctly imo) and immediately blows for time. VAR look at the incident and agree with Darren. But what if VAR hadn't agreed with him? Presumably, although the game had ended, Darren would have needed to restart it to allow the penalty to be taken. Is that correct? Ty!

Yes indeed. See Brighton v Man Utd last season as an example, where Chris Kavanagh awarded a penalty to Man Utd after the final whistle for a handball just before it, after receiving VAR advice.

On occasion I have heard Mark Halsey refer to a "VAR Match Commander", he did so last year in the context of the non-referral of the non-penalty award when Alex McCrthy brought down Phil Foden.  I'm not aware of this "VAR Match Commander" post and its role.  Can anyone enlighten me?

Don't think it was Neil Swarbrick, apparently the person was not, nor had been a referee.  There is something about it that doesn't ring true and I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light over whether such a role exists. 

A lot of videos and comments on twitter etc that the Adama Traore goal disallowed at Brentford on Saturday was because VAR used the wrong still of the Neves pass and that Traore was well onside.

Quote from: Microscopist on Sun 23 Jan 2022 19:47

Don't think it was Neil Swarbrick, apparently the person was not, nor had been a referee.  There is something about it that doesn't ring true and I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light over whether such a role exists. 

With our mobile units in Hungary we have a club official allocated who ensures the van is in the right place, all the right cables have been attached correctly, does the sound and video tests and relays any problems such as sound failure etc to the clubs and on field match officials. Could there be a similar role at Stockley Park or in the ground liaising with Stockley Park (without the physical cables needing to be attached and checked of course)?

I have done some digging as this intrigued me!  It appears to be a term unique to the PL. There are 3 VAR match commanders who I believe are Adam Carter, Neil Swarbrick & Mike Mullarkey. Their role is to oversee the processes & ensure protocol is followed etc. They are allowed to be in and about at Stockley Park but not allowed to be involved in any decision making. Remember that incident when Neil Swarbrick & Stuart Attwell had words at one game a year or so ago? Can't remember the game off hand.

In Germany they use the term VAR project manager for what I think is the same role. Hellmut Krug was sacked in Germany in 2017 after an allegation he had interfered with 2 penalty decisions. He and the VAR team denied he had any influence but he was sacked anyway. https://www.dw.com/en/dfb-part-ways-with-var-project-manager-hellmut-krug/a-41261100

In terms of the responses I received from those in non UK refereeing:

IFAB - it is not a phrase they are familiar with.
UEFA - Neither UEFA nor FIFA have heard of this position but it could mean a VAR manager, which is a recognised role. Neither UEFA nor FIFA allow the VAR manager to be online with the VAR team or present in the VOR. They are not allowed to communicate with the VAR team at all unless there is a technical issue.
I also asked FIFA level refs from Hungary, Romania, Albania, Serbia, Slovakia & Russia - none have heard the term VAR match commander but all mentioned that there is a VAR manager present at Nyon, who ensures everything is working correctly and assists if there is a problem eg the comms going down but otherwise has no communication with the team during a match.

My conclusion is that the VAR match commander is just a fancy term for the VAR manager role. If they are however communicating with the VAR team during a match either by being online with the team or being in the VOR then they are breaching FIFA/UEFA guidelines and rules and should be removed immediately. They should also be sacked as was done in Germany even though it was not proven. It raises an integrity issue. Whether this occurs or not I do not know and I am not suggesting that it does.

Who've they got doing VAR? Boris?

Of course not, he's too busy partying ... 😂