Kyle Reese

Listening to Doncaster being asked about VAR on Sportsound right now. He has said that accuracy of decision making is up to nearly 100%. So does that mean that the people who want rid of it, on the grounds of feeling cheated by it, are paranoid? For me, I would always want to err on the side of accuracy. Let’s get better at using it, and it would then mean people would no longer go through this hypochondriac “it’s ruining my enjoyment of the game” whining.

It’s paranoid to not like things like the Kyriakos dive, but it’s balanced and normal to have a campaign to get rid of VAR because you feel cheated by it? The mental gymnastics involved in that is fantastic.

Hahaha. I am a nut job for not being happy about the shit decisions that affected my team pre VAR but those whining about decisions post VAR are quite sensible. Okay mate.

No, sorry. I disagree. You have not given me reasons, you have just said you disagree. Which of these listed decisions were correct? It would be better to debate them individually in this instance. Personally my experience of Scottish football for the last nearly 40 years has been littered with really really shit decisions that have been just laughed off and overlooked. I compare that to what has happened since VAR and the positive of it far outweighs the negatives. I am giving my opinion and I stand strongly by it. Were you in attendance when Miko was sent off for Andy Davis cheating? I was. What about Brines sending of Fyssas? Nah, nobody is going to convince me that my experience of football the parity of decision making has not evened out a bit since its inception. Could be improved? Yes, it could. Would I go back to the shit show from before it? No fucking thanks.

If used properly by people that just want to arrive at the correct decision, it makes it far less subjective, and far more accurate and fair.

You didn’t really answer.

No, I asked those that red dotted to put together considered negatory replies, instead of just red dotting. Nobody has actually managed to respond in any kind of way that even answers my points to give me food for thought, nor disprove my reasoning.

It’s cool mate. Basically it comes down to me comparing pre and post VAR incidents, and me weighing it up on how I feel it affects my enjoyment of football. On the one hand I have to consider the breaks in the game and the fact I could celebrate and have the reason to celebrate overturned. On the other hand I look at how decisions like Andy Davis, Brines and McDonald are less common or likely. I am pretty definitive in my decision.

Sit it out then, instead of being obtuse and churlish and trying to build strawman arguments that are not relevant nor necessary, when my posts are perfectly concise and plain in their meaning.

Oh right. So the examples that I gave then? You know, the ones that were predominantly in favour of the old firm? They make my point “old firmy”?

Well there you have it. I have laid out my reasons and backed them up with recorded incidents. I have stated reasons why I hold the position I do. I take it from the post that I am replying to, that you did not get cheated as often as my team pre-VAR? That in itself just strengthens my resolve tbh. My position is that I would like to see the technology properly implemented to ensure more correct decisions than what we had to endure before its introduction. Also, pertinently, I want to see referees chosen on merit, and not because they scuttled through Strathclyde associations. My club has not been cheated as much (we have still been cheated) as before VAR was introduced. For that reason I want to see it improved. It is human error that is causing the issues, not the technology. Let’s see us sort out the real problem.

I celebrate every goal and feel the angst after every look at those decisions afterwards. I much prefer actually getting cheated so often, to the risk of a goal I celebrated being chalked off.

I am sure you did. Being seven, I enjoyed the whole season, but felt a little bit down in the final league game and the cup final, but at that age and in your first season? It did not ruin the memories and emotions I had felt along the way.

Oh right. Great reply mate. Impressive stuff.

The biggest two arguments against VAR appear to be: 1) Referees and other officials have been exposed as either completely incompetent or corrupt. 2) It spoils the flow of the game. The first one is a ludicrous reason to get rid of it. It should be a reason to revamp and totally revolutionise the standard of officiating. The second one is no different to a goal being called back for a referees decision in the run up. VAR is not the problem. The problem is the sub-standard cowards running the show.

Fair few red dots on this post of mine. Can the folk who did so actually explain what it is about the content of the post that prompted it? If it is just purely disagreement, then quote it and say why.

No idea. All I know is that the number of utterly farcical decisions against HMFC has reduced through its use. Last season we got two penalties at Parkhead and both were only given after VAR intervention. I was closer to giving up on the whole corrupt shooting match due to the corruption in officiating PRE-VAR!

Yep. My first ever season. It was incredible. Loved it.

I started going to all home games and most away as a seven year old in 1986. I have been a season book holder (unbroken) since 1996. I still go to the away games that I can, and I never miss a cup game. I do get the whole thing about celebrating a goal, and then waiting on VAR to overrule it, but I can live with that. Far better to just improve the refereeing standard, and to eliminate so many utterly ridiculous decisions like the ones I mentioned in my long post. That frustration was unbearable.

In my experience this has not been the case. We have had penalties against them that we would not have been awarded before, and the things I mentioned in my long post would have been overturned. Honestly don’t know if people forget how bad it was previously, but maybe that varies from club supporter to club supporter. We have had the absolute knickers taken off us over the years at HMFC, and I prefer the way things are now. I absolutely want to see the idiots running the show fired out a cannon in to mid-Atlantic, but I want the improved accuracy in verdicts to stay.

That’s just some of the big incidents off the top of my head too. All the offside goals or undeserved penalties over the years. Nope much prefer this way.

They have had incidents overturned or turned in the other teams favour due to VAR that they would never have normally suffered. They hate it because it stops them getting as many things in their favour. Brendan Rodgers in particular hates that his team do not get as many favours as they used to. I much prefer what happens now compared to: Four players sent off at Ibrox mostly for f**k all Andy Webster told he must have elbowed himself in the eye, not John Hartson Dougie MacDonald sending off Webster and McCann at Rugby Park and Hartley in the 2006 cup final Andy Davis awarding Kyriakos a penalty for diving Barry Ferguson playing basketball Ian Brines sending off Fyssas for a dive by Maloney in a New Year’s Day game vs Celtic Allan McGregor kung-fu kicking Callum Elliot in the stomach Kenny Miller effectively ending Kevin McHattie’s career at a decent level with a knee high challenge at the touchline No thanks, I prefer when incompetence and bias are exposed and the officials made to look incompetent for their cowardice. I particularly enjoyed the nationwide ridicule when Dermot Gallagher reviewed the incident where the Motherwell player kicked Boyce in the chest and he booked him for diving. The two studio guests and him on SKY pissing themselves laughing at the referee. The more exposure these p***ks get the better

Yes. It is far better than the rage and frustration that I would endure on an almost weekly basis, caused by corrupt or inept officials. Keep it but get some decent officials in to operate it. The old firm would love to get rid of it.

I do not want to get rid of VAR. I would rather not go back to our fate being decided by cowardly officials giving incorrect decisions against us with impunity. The mere fact that Celtic and Rangers would love to bin it should tell you everything you need to know. Keep it but make it better and improve the standard of our shite officials.

Bunch of arse.