VAR and Sky

[Mase]

Why are Sky allowed to listen to what’s being said by VAR to the ref? Why are the public not allowed to hear?

For Liverpool’s pen claim last night - Tyler said, “Paul Tierney is telling him (the referee) that Bailly played the ball with his left foot”!!

I knew it was a conspiracy theory that Sky were influencing VAR but I think that confirms it. If Sky can hear what is being said between VAR and the referee, then I’m sure VAR can hear what Sky are saying.

Absolutely disgraceful.

[PeterParker]

I really think VAR can work, but only when it will follow the rugby way and everything is live and we can hear what they are talking about.

Some scenes are piss poor with everyone sitting on the field while they wait to see a message on the scoreboard about the decision. Then 5-10 minutes later into the game you see another replay with different angles.

I support VAR, but they won't allow it to be like it should, not when in the VAR room you will have other refs instead on an independent party. The bent refs will support eachother and follow the agenda.

At this rate VAR will disappear soon because people are annoyed by it, players are and so on, but it's stupid, because everyone is tired of this VAR, not by the proper one.

With a proper one, teams like those two from last night would struggle to finish in top 4.

[BlueinBosnia]

If Sky can hear what is being said between VAR and the referee, then I’m sure VAR can hear what Sky are saying.

Not 'officially'. I'm guessing it's a one-way transmission.

HOWEVER, while there are all kinds of things in play to stop referees, linesmen, etc. being influenced by outside factors (no replays shown on big screens, etc.), the same can't be said for VAR. I honestly don't have enough confidence in the integrity of VAR to see it as 'fair' (without even considering that I feel it destroys the tempo of a game, ruins the atmosphere, and creates a technological chasm between top-tier football and the rest of the game). What's to stop someone in the VAR box listening to the radio, or catching a stream on their mobile.? The VAR room being empty for the Real Madrid v. Valladolid game also shows that they're not in a 'sealed environment', and obviously they're not exposed to the same level of public scrutiny as people out there on the pitch and sidelines in front of tens of thousands of spectators, and millions watching on TV.

Without the public being able to listen to what is being said, and, ideally, a chance to scrutinize the goings-on in the VAR room via some kind of 'live feed' (possibly by "Pressing the Red Button", if that's still a think on UK TV), literally anything could influence what's going on in there, which, in turn, could influence how the VAR officials act, which, in turn, could influence a) the other match officials, and b) the outcome of the game.

Edit: Just to add, the very fact that Sky (the company responsible for broadcasting) are privileged to a feed from the VAR room shows that transmissions from there to third parties are possible and within the scope of the rules. It seems that the only reason the public don't hear what's going on is either because Sky opts not to broadcast it, or because there's some kind of copyright/confidentiality rule regarding its broadcast, whereby Sky and the PL are able to share the transmission, but the viewing public/customers can't. I'd love to know which of these is the actual reason.

[stupot]

MartinTyler " Hey Gary last time united lost on a Thursday was when you were subbed against Middlesbrough".

No Martin they got beat last Thursday against Roma.

Time to retire.

[Scatman]

I knew it was a conspiracy theory that Sky were influencing VAR but I think that confirms it.

You're right that if Sky are allowed to hear and pass it on to viewers then the fans in the ground should also be allowed to hear or at least be told, but the fact that Sky are able to hear does not confirm they are influencing VAR at all. It's just a conspiracy theory, plain and simple.

[john68]

Whether it is disgraceful or not is a matterof which side of the fence you sit Mate.
For us it is totally corrupt......For those on the other side of that fence, being able to influence results to maximise profits is (they see) a financial necessity.

The Premier League earns £billions for the football institutions, the club owners of certain club owners, particularly the powerful old G14 and cartel clubs, the TV companies and written media and a whole host of agents, managers, players etc. IT IS A GOOSE THAT LAYS A NEVER ENDING CONVEYOR OF FINANCIAL GOLDEN EGGS.

Unlike hundreds of thousands (possibly millions) of fans who chuck their tenners at an online football betting site, for those who now own and control our game (and havedone for a many years) the stakes are far too high for them to rely on a chance result of a bunch of players. There are too many variables for them to risk their fortunes. Football fans have a punt on results, they invest and they need to be able to control as many of those uncontrolable vartiables as possible.

For the football institutions there is far too much money at stake to rely on a fair played out result and as Scudamore openly stated; "That (Manchester) United don't win the Premier League every season is a tragedy for football". The then CEO of the rags London based parent company (Roland Smith), before the Glazers said in a speech to rag's shareholders in the Midland Hotel; "The playing of football is merely coincidental to the business of Manchester United".

For we fans, football it is a sport, a game where we are emotionall linked to our teams and each week we ride the emotional roller coaster of wins and losses, good and bad form, refereeing decisions, relegations and promotions. For us it is a drug and, yes, I am a City and football addict likemany millions of others. But to our controllers and owners......FOOTBALL = PROFIT. As simple as that.

Those game variables, loss of form, important player injuries, freak goals, freak results, debateable fouls or handballs are a risk they have to control where possible.
Referees have always been under the spotlight for dodgy decisions, they have to be protected. 1) They are always right. 2) They cannot be questioned. 3) They cannot comment or expla in their decisions. 4) They cannot be openly criticised by clubs, managers or players. 5) Any open criticism by a club, manager or player is punishable by a ban or fine....Hows that for protection or silencing of rational debate. We fans (the customers) are left in the dark and often very angry.

Our football institutions also have to be protected from being caught having their fingers in the till, so remove themselves from the equation and set up a private independent company, owned and controlled by them....POGMOB. Control one step removed.

Is it fair to have all this on the shoulders of referees? Or do they need further protection from open criticism? TECHNOLOGY...BLAME TECHNOLOGY NOT THE REFEREE. If it's forensic technology, it must be correct. If it's technology and we remove it from the game and stick it in a caravan away from the game, it becomes faceless, Much harder for us to investigate, much easier for them to defend, away from the public view.

VAR was defined as the ability to rationalise corruption. They know it, the clubs know it, the media knows it and we also know it. but week after week they use it in plain sight, take our money, pick up the £millions and laugh all the way to the their banks in the Cayman Island.

VAR is disgusting but for them, a necessity.

[john68]

I really think VAR can work, but only when it will follow the rugby way and everything is live and we can hear what they are talking about.

Some scenes are piss poor with everyone sitting on the field while they wait to see a message on the scoreboard about the decision. Then 5-10 minutes later into the game you see another replay with different angles.

I support VAR, but they won't allow it to be like it should, not when in the VAR room you will have other refs instead on an independent party. The bent refs will support eachother and follow the agenda.

At this rate VAR will disappear soon because people are annoyed by it, players are and so on, but it's stupid, because everyone is tired of this VAR, not by the proper one.

With a proper one, teams like those two from last night would struggle to finish in top 4.

VAR already does work Mate It works perfectly. It does everything it was designed to do. It helps control those uncontrolable variables that could decrease profits. It helps deliver the most marketable clubs to the top and into the larger income channels. It helps stabilise investments by delivering the most marketable clubs onto the global TV sales?price market.

Do you really think that those in control give a flying fuck what anyone thinks? They are making money, so the sheep can go fuck themselves. There is a World of customers to recruit and milk.

[Dimples]

I knew it was a conspiracy theory that Sky were influencing VAR but I think that confirms it.

You're right that if Sky are allowed to hear and pass it on to viewers then the fans in the ground should also be allowed to hear or at least be told, but the fact that Sky are able to hear does not confirm they are influencing VAR at all. It's just a conspiracy theory, plain and simple.

Then why not let everyone hear the conversations like they do in Rugby?
It would enhance the 'customer experience' when consuming the 'product'!
It makes no sense - unless there are ulterior motives.

[patrickblue]

I really think VAR can work, but only when it will follow the rugby way and everything is live and we can hear what they are talking about.

Some scenes are piss poor with everyone sitting on the field while they wait to see a message on the scoreboard about the decision. Then 5-10 minutes later into the game you see another replay with different angles.

I support VAR, but they won't allow it to be like it should, not when in the VAR room you will have other refs instead on an independent party. The bent refs will support eachother and follow the agenda.

At this rate VAR will disappear soon because people are annoyed by it, players are and so on, but it's stupid, because everyone is tired of this VAR, not by the proper one.

With a proper one, teams like those two from last night would struggle to finish in top 4.

VAR already does work Mate It works perfectly. It does everything it was designed to do. It helps control those uncontrolable variables that could decrease profits. It helps deliver the most marketable clubs to the top and into the larger income channels. It helps stabilise investments by delivering the most marketable clubs onto the global TV sales?price market.

Do you really think that those in control give a flying fuck what anyone thinks? They are making money, so the sheep can go fuck themselves. There is a World of customers to recruit and milk.

Spot on

Jonn, is it because we're both old buggers that makes us so cynical?

[john68]

I quite enjoy being an old bugger Patrick :-)

Seriously I think cynicism comes from thefact that we are older Mate.

Every generation accepts that the environment they grow up in as normality. They have little or no knowledge and certainly, having never lived in a different envoronment, how things were before they were born.

The past often gives us old buggers a series of reference points from which to view and judge the present.

Whilst this may leave the young currently a tad disadvantaged in some debates debate, they too will grow old and their time will eventually come.
Like they may never have seen Bell, Lee, Summerbee, their kids won't have seen Yaya, Kompany, El Mago, Kun nor Zaba.

[Beefymcfc]

Why are Sky allowed to listen to what’s being said by VAR to the ref? Why are the public not allowed to hear?

For Liverpool’s pen claim last night - Tyler said, “Paul Tierney is telling him (the referee) that Bailly played the ball with his left foot”!!

I knew it was a conspiracy theory that Sky were influencing VAR but I think that confirms it. If Sky can hear what is being said between VAR and the referee, then I’m sure VAR can hear what Sky are saying.

Absolutely disgraceful.

I brought this up last season and I have still not changed my view that it works both ways, probably via the now uncovered Match Commander. It’s been noted on a number of occasions where, even though it’s a stonewall, RatBoy and Gobber will argue against it if it’s against one of their teams.