Yep, it’s a clear case of the law is an ass.
The culture of how VAR is used is also a good point. In the UK if the ref is sent to the screen, it’s usually an ‘overrule’ and he upgrades his initial decision to a penalty. They don’t appear to feel the same sort of pressure to change the decision elsewhere.
We can’t have a post match without mentioning Fede.
Not bad for a lad who’s 2nd touch is a tackle.
We really should be able to uncouple our frustration at how it played out from this sort of motivated refusal to understand how or why the VAR protocol applied differently to the two situations.
The key to whether VAR gets intervene is if the ref used the right facts to make their decision. How natural a position the arm is in is still a subjective decision, so I get that on some level it feels like it’s over reaching if we’re being held to the not rerefereeing the game, but when comparing the ref’s description of what he thinks he saw with the video images it still leaves room for the VAR to identify a discrepancy in a way that was not there in the Brentford game.
You see the same distinction in tackles all the time. The VAR isnt getting involved just because the ref got it wrong, but gets involved if they thing they got it wrong as a result of having described something other than they saw - point of contact, whether the tackler left their feet etc.
I don’t get it, could you explain?
Two things.
Firstly I don’t see much difference in the objectivity/subjectivity of the two decisions. Let’s be honest - if that handball is nowhere near the box, VAR don’t get involved. Therefore the only reason for VAR to get involved is to say to the ref “Are you sure you want to give a penalty for that?”. We were repeatedly told in the aftermath of the Brentford game VAR cannot get involved on the free kick, only the factual matter of whether it was inside or outside the box.
Secondly, the protocols are fucking stupid when the only natural outcome from the situation on the pitch are a free kick, a penalty or a corner. There is literally no decision outcome there that can result in Real Madrid being given the ball back.
Drivel.
I am incredibly humble and I fucking love pie.
Pretty sure he blows before the ball goes out so can’t be a corner..but as it stands it couldn’t be anyway of course.
Honestly I didnt think it was a penalty, so I’m not bothered (continued inner peace). I understand the rabbit hole that Madrid get the decisions they want but remember, the ref gave this one as handball and VAR called it back.
I didnt mind as I never thought it was a penalty in the first place.
One of the scouse stereotypes, that they steal hubcaps, and being that you can waltz into the louvre and steal priceless jewelry… surely it’s safer on a hubcap.
As bizarre an explanation as I expected.
We have two issues:
Slot is a good coach
Wirtz is great signing
VVD isn’t finishe yet
FIFY
Whatever happened to the traditional drop ball where a player from both teams dukes it our like a faceoff in hockey? I remember doing that back in the day. Seems like it’d be appropriate in that instance.
Was in the main sstand for last nights match. Great atmosphere, particularly in the 2nd half.
VAR was frustrating last night, with the handball check and then with the delay in giving our goal.
Thought the ref was crap. Seemed to want to play the game at one point, setting Real off on a dangerous counter.
Macca, Szoboz, Bradley and Wirtz were all excellent. Only Courtois turned up for Real.
I boo’d trent.
All in all a statisfying night.
Sadly couldn’t watch the game last night but finally caught some highlights. Favourite bit? Wirtz being integral to so many of the chances we created.
Macca shot over the bar comes from Wirtz nicking the ball back in the corner.
Szobo chance saved by Courtois comes from Wirtz putting it on a plate.
Both long range drives from Macca and Szobo come from passes from Wirtz.
Van Dijk header is from a Wirtz corner.
Even the Gakpo chance that Courtois saves point blank, Wirtz is lurking and if the ball just bounced a little further out he’d have had a tap in.
He’s such a good footballer we have to find ways to get him in the team. And, I reckon once he bags his first goal the floodgates will open.
But Wirtz only has 2 assists 
