Dirty Sanchez

Most of the game is left to the refs. Only scoring plays and turnovers (i.e. game changers) are automatically reviewed, and you won't see or hear about them unless something is wrong. The only other reviews come from coaches challenges, plus booth reviews in the last 2 mins of each half. Together these averaged at fewer than one per team per game last year because it's counterproductive to challenge frivolously. Most things are either non-reviewable by rule, or not worthy of a challenge. They didn't arrive at this overnight. I'd be bitterly disappointed if the cack handed stuff we are seeing at this World Cup was the finished article.

Long story short; that's not correct at all about American football, where video review is strictly limited to certain situations. I'm not that impressed with how football has started using video, but the hope is that they iron it out over time,and improve it until it's fully fit for purpose. It's only a slippery slope if they don't properly subscribe to that. American football, e.g., is 40 years ahead of us and they've been through the full cycle that we're only at the start of. They tested it years before it was introduced, and faced all the same hostility that we're now seeing in football regarding its introduction. They had mixed results and further hostility when it was brought in, and actually ditched it for a number of years, until a high profile refereeing f**k up, that cost lots of people their jobs, was the impetus to bring it back. They've proactively knocked all the rough edges off it, helped by improved technology and it's now fully accepted. I'd hope that's where football is heading with this. In other news, I think the scrutiny of VAR is shining a light on the ropey nature of some of the laws of the game that need addressing.

There's never enough emphasis given to intent in football. I get fed up listening to guys like Chris Sutton looking to have players sent off for the angle their foot is at, rather than focusing on whether there is actually genuine intent to win the ball, or not. Same with handballs. Focus should be on intent, first and foremost. VAR only gives you a better look at it. Biggest problem is the double whammy of shit refs enforcing flawed laws. On that note, it was refreshing to hear the three female pundits point out that the standard of refereeing has been woeful, and it should be the best available top level refs in charge of these games, irrespective of their gender.

That's good news (VARs in Premier League will not order penalty re-take if goalkeeper comes off line next season) and FIFA would be wise to a have a rethink and follow suit after this shite. Penalties are dead ball situations that can easily be officiated between the ref and assistant on the line. Only egregious examples should be penalised unless they want penalties and particularly penalty shoot outs to become an absolute farce. VAR is an excellent tool for referrees to use, but they are in grave danger of spoliing that by cluelessly implementing it.

I wasn't aware that goalkeepers leaving their line at penalties was a big issue that needed addressing. Apparently FIFA did! It's working out pretty well so far,eh? Explains the Hladky stuff in the play-off. The number of referees who are honking at the job makes things hard enough without giving them shitey guidelines within which to enforce daft rules. Handball has needed addressing for years. They've finally addressed it and made it f*cking worse.

I came across this from 5 years ago. Scroll down for a reminder of who we signed. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/gallery/pictures-scottish-premiership-2014-summer-3869044

Piling on the goals is not an issue. Scotland have twice gone out of World Cups on goal difference after failing to pile it on the group whipping boys. They are being panned even by their own fans for this, and specifically it's trying to push the narrative towards gender that I'm not a fan of.

Just reading about the Americans overcelebrating. https://nypost.com/2019/06/12/uswnt-ripped-for-over-the-top-celebrations/ Not impreesed with one of them pinning it on gender. A bit tiresome. "Would you tell a men’s team to not score or celebrate?" Erm, yes, but I can't think of too many times when anyone has had to.

On this day 29 years ago. A lot of Saints fans at that game. Would be a shock if they didn't beat us these days.

There's never an excuse for hitting a woman.

It's not a case of whether we need it. The challenge is in how they use. It has to be done in a way that suits the sport, or they'll lose people. We've already got a faction who are still hostile to a goal being correctly disallowed by VAR. I'm all for it, but I saw an Aussie game where they twice stopped the match to hand out straight reds for tackles that had happened in the previous passage of play, both of which only the likes of Chris Sutton would have been calling for. That's going to turn people off. Handball is a separate issue. It's not a VAR problem.

My heart always sinks when a I hear a commentator utter the "Was it deliberate?" line at the sight of a handball. The Sportscene guy is good for it. I rejoiced the other week when I finally heard a pundit, Michael Owen, clear things up. He said words to the effect of, in nearly all cases ***OF COURSE IT'S NOT DELIBERATE!!***. Who in their right mind deliberately handles in the box? It's the new interpretation that's the problem, not VAR. VAR only gave that ref the means to confirm it was a penalty under the new interpretation, instead of having to guess, like they've always done. By definition, a penalty is penalising an offence. Focussing on genuine intent should surely be the route they are going down with this law, rather that any such pish about making your body bigger or whatever.

Let go of the ball you f*cking clown. I'm a great believer in equal opportunities shouting.

That what I thought when I saw her icloud leaked pictures.

Penalties for that type of incident have been a shitfest for years in football. Willie Collum would have booked her as well. That's one of his signature moves. I'm not sure that they'e going down the right road with the changes to the law, but it's very hard to come up with a law that will work for these handballs.

Fair play to the Coronation Street writers for trying to recreate the away leg of the Slavia Prague tie in that case.

Cheapened by the fact that he was playing as the blue team.

Don't know, but from 00:14 onwards he takes a few seconds to beat half the Scotland team by himself too.

'Won a World Cup by himself' isn't an accolade many can legitimatley claim.

Wonderful assist from Steve Hodge. Steve Hodge genuinely has Maradona's shirt from that game. No doubt a gift in appreciation of his pinpoint cross.

I presume I'm seeing this advert as a result of reading this thread.

Could do with some VAR to break this free flowing shite up.

The streaker had clothes on as well. FFS. The beautiful game?

Phantom tickets are for W1. Been informed they've been sent out, when I collected my real purchase today. If I get them it won't be an issue because I've been promised a refund, and I'm sure I could easily shift them anyway without taking them back. The issue will be if they don't arrive, which isn't out of the question since the street name on the address is jibberish. Fortunately the postcode and house number are correct, so we'll see. Would be a waste of two tickets for someone who needs them and a waste of £36 for me. Of course, I was dismissed as though it was obviously my fault when I first highlighted it today. Because that's what I'm known for. Lying about buying tickets I don't know anything about.