Show/hide article…
VAR are initials football people are now having to recognise, certainly if you are watching the game at the top level. It stands for Video Assistant Referee.
How many times is there an argument both on and off the field that the referee should have given a free kick, offside or, in most cases, a penalty?
This new system means that there is in effect an extra referee who is planted in a studio somewhere with a screen in front of him covering the game.
Apparently if the referee gives a decision which is immediately questioned by players, crowd, and even in his own mind, he is now able to contact the man with the replays, who is equally qualified, and can give him an answer within seconds.
It sounds good and it was proved to be effective in the first FA Cup third round replay this week. A goal was given offside for Leicester, there was a big question mark, and within a minute it was proved that the player was onside and the referee overruled his original decision, to the delight of the player, manager and the home crowd.
So far, so good.
However, only a day later more people than usual probably watched because BBC covered the game where Chelsea, who surprisingly had been held to a draw at Norwich, had to host a replay at Stamford Bridge.
Most people probably thought it would be easy, but thanks to a strong display by Norwich it went to extra-time.
To be fair it was no surprise that the home team were on top the longer the game went on and the excitement was whether Norwich could hold them back.
This is of course what happened, as the game eventually went to penalties, which fortunately went to the way of Chelsea.
I say fortunately because there was a situation where the referee overruled a penalty appeal for Chelsea and booked Willian for diving.
Anyone watching could tell that the tackle was a bit late, the Norwich defender’s leg went across the Chelsea player’s shins, and there was no other option than to go down.
Everyone thought that would be corrected by the VAR system.
However, it turned out that the referee with the replays didn’t agree it was a mistake, and stood by the referee’s decision.
Not only was there no penalty but a yellow card for the player accused of diving.
A good thing from Mr Conte’s point of view was that they got the result and got through, but there has to be now a big question mark over the use of this new system.
I would like to have been in the referee’s room afterwards, or when they get to together in the days following the game to discuss the situation.
The problem is there is no going back. You can’t play the game again, the result stands, but let’s hope that at least the yellow card can be done away with and an admission that there is still a question mark over this ultra-modern technology.
This one is for athletes with learning disabilities such as Down’s Syndrome and Autism.
There are about 140 branches around Britain and recently a new one has been formed in the Southampton area, which will cover the city plus Winchester, Eastleigh and the New Forest.
They are looking to get athletes to partake in the 40th Anniversary Games, which are being held in Scotland in August, and are putting on a ‘Spinathon,’ to help raise money.
It is taking places Chamberlayne Leisure Centre on Weston Lane.
It starts at 12 noon on Friday, February 2, and finishes at 12 noon the next day.
There will be static bikes lined up and each member of a team has to do at least one hour of the 24 hour challenge.
Teams can be as many as 24 people, although usually four-eight is a good number.
This is an opportunity to not just help out a good charity and raise money to enable these youngsters to take part in sport – which, believe me having been connected for so many years, makes a vast difference to their lives and their families – but it will give groups of people, for instance representing their company, or just pals in the pub, an opportunity to have a laugh, and obviously get fit early in the New Year.
A team must raise £100 to enter and any money collected and donations raised will go directly to the good cause.
All details can be found by clicking this link > >
Go to the original article…
...coordinately erected by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
per cent off all 2017/18 replica kit in 
| 
hour until kick-off!
