by nottsblue » Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:37 pm
Sky have just had on Dermot Gallagher, the supposed “referee expert”, on with two no mark dippers to discuss the two contentious VAR decisions in our game. The two dippers to give them credit both agreed the disallowed goal was very harsh and football is losing some magic and spontaneity from these decisions. Predictably, Gallagher was sticking to the script of that it is what the fans want after some of the handball decisions last year.
Then the fun started when they looked at the penalty non award. Again both dippers were incredulous it wasn’t given, either at the time or on a VAR afterwards. The presenter then asked Gallagher for his opinion and whether yes or no was it a penalty. He then said he didn’t think initially it was but the more he looks at the more he is changing his mind. Also he said the VAR shouldn’t over rule the on field referee unless it was clear and obvious to which the dippers were amazed as it was as clear a penalty as you will see. They also pointed out the referee wasn’t watching the tumble as his gaze was elsewhere so he didn’t give it because he didn’t see it so surely VAR has to step in. The presenter then asks whether City fans have the right to be disgruntled as one goal for a mere fraction of an infringement was ruled out whilst a stonewall penalty was not given. He answered that they weren’t comparable as one was factual and one was subjective whereupon the presenter just laughed at him as if to say “come on don’t be daft”.
If this is the typical standard of officiating both on field and in the VAR control room, both in their stubbornness and reticence to positively use technology then we are in for a terrible season of injustice and inconsistency