VAR - Has a line been crossed?

[Niall1905]

It isn't, though. We know that VAR officials have seen blatant offences but decided not alert the ref, because it's happened to us. And has no doubt happened on other occasions. The media has reacted as if this is the first time when it isn't.

It is though. 

I am talking about a failure in process, not a lack of integrity. 

Mike Dean and, as you say, many others have probably influenced games for a wide range of reasons. This has been happening long before VAR. Its a separate issue that needs addressing but it isn't the same as this. There is no way to nail a referee on doing that unless they openly admit it. 

For this offside, the process of VAR understanding the on field decision, checking it and relaying what they understand to be the correct decision to the referee completely failed. This is not a subjective decision that can be swayed by bias or backing up a friend. It is a pure fact that they botched up because they are bad at their job. It cannot be compared to any other decision, unless we know that categorically in that moment the referee was trying to give one decision and ended up giving the opposite.

The fact of the matter is, we were effected by something you cannot mitigate for. There is no way to ensure that type of decision doesnt happen again. Yes we should have kicked up a fuss, but there isn't really a way to stop it. But for the offside, VAR can introduce new processes that should be followed on each review and if a similar occurrence happens. No doubt Klopp is just looking for some favourable decisions further down the line but at least it might initiate some form of procedural change.

 

[Backbiter]

Yes, it's a failure of communication, and of process. Yes, both issues need to be addressed. For me, the simple solution to the confusion was to have alerted the ref once they realised, which was VERY quickly. As I've posted before, what stopped them? is the protocol that you can't stop the game when they identify something the officials have missed? Because I'd argue that's exactly what the ref does when the VAR team alert him to a handball he missed that needs to be reviewed, or a dangerous challenge the ref let go that warrants another look. This isn't difficult to address, and this whole issue is a hell of a lot less sinister than what has happened to us.