A-League’s opening round blighted by joy-killing VAR decisions
The best moments of the A-League’s opening round was dominated by 11 minutes of 39 seconds of doing nothing but waiting. VAR might be correct — but is it right, asks SIMON HILL.
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Six VAR interventions, six correct decisions. All is good in the football world then?
Well, no actually. Quite apart from the amount of time it took for the technology to do its thing (collectively, the five A-League games were delayed by a total of 11 minutes and 39 seconds while waiting for the decisions), the VAR sucked the life out of the big moments in round one.
Al Hassan Toure’s debut goal was overshadowed by the “is it, or isn’t it” tribulations, while Elvis Kamsoba’s exuberant celebrations were all for nothing, thanks to him being ruled offside by a quarter of a jockstrap.
Kosta Barbarouses was similarly denied for Sydney, courtesy of a $150,000 investment in the Hawkeye technology, which has clearly done away with the mantra of “clear and obvious” error. Congratulations pedants, you have won.
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Part of the emotion of football is that it’s full of imperfection. The striker misses an open goal, the defender slices a clearance, the goalkeeper makes a hash of a routine save. All are ultimately forgiven, because everyone understands human failing is part of life.
Referees have never been given that sort of leeway, and while VAR was introduced with the noblest of intentions (to help them), it has — in my opinion — created a monster, where officials in a booth hundreds of kilometres away now police the game in a pointless pursuit of perfection. What’s next? A FIFA VAR video game?
Friday night’s game between Adelaide and Sydney had some gripping storylines. Toure’s goal, Nikola Mileusnic’s wonderful free-kick, and local boy Ryan McGowan heading a late winner in front of many of his friends and family.
All were relegated to minor discussion points as VAR took centre stage. Thus, it was perhaps fitting that the final action of the weekend in Perth was dominated by yet another referral to officials. It took a full two minutes before
Roy O’Donovan’s goal for Brisbane was declared legal. It’s not surprising the clubs wanted the new technology.
They, understandably, want the right decisions more than anyone. Yet this is not the English Premier League where millions of dollars are at stake, and in a sport where scoring is a difficult art, it’s surely more preferable to leave that “clear and obvious error” rule in place, to encourage goals and entertainment to bring in the crowds.
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For a game not exactly flush with cash, that $150,000 would have been better spent on promoting the new season to get bums on seats.
Kamsoba, meantime, confirmed to Fox Sports post-game that he will think twice before doing his somersault celebration routine in future.
Brilliant. A moment of pure joy in a rather stale game expunged, and the fun police will prevent a young talent from exposing himself to potential embarrassment.
Perhaps I’m in a minority, but I grew up admiring the skills of footballers, and enjoying great goals, not the forensic investigation of footage by officials.
I had a poster of my idol, Colin Bell, up on my wall. Maybe the next generation will have Kris Griffiths-Jones instead?
Originally published as A-League’s opening round blighted by joy-killing VAR decisions