Ramblings of an Englishman

I started writing this on 18th April 2021 in the light that this takes more then a day to write. I’ve never had a day where I’ve wanted to give up on football as such. Just as a reference, I started this about an hour after ranting about VAR and English referees and then this news broke and it just sent me spinning.  I’ve grown up with football from my birth, it's been one of the constants in my life in terms of entertainment, that wrestling and Pokémon probably the main one's through my life I found entertainment and escapism from for the longest. I look back at football and the time spent with family members no longer here watching enjoying games. I remember when Arsenal won the FA Cup final in 2014 my first thought wasn’t relief or joy it was of my Grandad who passed away a few months before. It felt like that was for him I just wish he could’ve seen it. Look, that is what football has meant to me, it's a way to connect with family and friends the time spent talking and ...

Short Answer? Yes. When the video assistant referee (VAR) was introduced to the Premier League the reaction was mixed. Used in the 2018 world cup I didn't think it was the worst? Were their issues? Yes but that is to be expected with any new technology on the whole. I looked forward to it in the premier league maybe with naivety but optimism.  But I failed to factor in something. The complete failure and sheer incompetence and stupidity of the English FA and the referees it employs.  Let's look at where VAR should be used as defined by the Premier League website. It is for 'clear and obvious errors' or 'serious missed incidents'. Ok fine you can see that. But when it is used time after time for an elbow or a toe offside is that clear and obvious? When it takes 5 minutes to draw multiple lines is it clear and obvious. To me no, these decisions are supposed to be made quick and I understand it won't be right away but when we are sat here arguing over millimetr...