Assistant refs to keep flag down for tight offside calls

[davieG]

World Cup assistant referees have been told to keep their flag down for tight offside calls to enable VAR to make the correct decision, says Fifa referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina.

Russia 2018 will be the first World Cup to use the video assistant referee system.

"If you see some assistant referee not raising the flag it's not because he's making mistakes," said Collina.

"It's because he's respected the instruction to keep the flag down."

Italian former referee Collina was speaking at the World Cup referees media briefing on Tuesday.

"They were told to keep the flag down when there is a tight offside incident and there could be a very promising attack or a goal-scoring opportunity because if the assistant referee raises the flag then everything is finished," he said.

"If the assistant referee keeps the flag down and the play goes on and maybe a goal comes at the end, there is a chance to review the goal using the technology."

How will VAR work in Russia?

Fifa president Gianni Infantino confirmed in March that VAR would be used in Russia,having been used in Germany and Italy and trialled in in some domestic English cup games last season.

The VAR - a current or former top referee - is in place to check decisions on four sorts of incidents:

Goals, including 'missed' attacking offences in the build-up

Penalties awarded and not awarded, including 'missed' attacking offences in the build-up

Direct red cards

Cases of mistaken identity where the wrong player is shown a red or yellow card

The referee can accept the information relayed through his earpiece by the VAR team, an option usually reserved for objective calls of fact, such as if a player is offside.

For more subjective decisions such as red cards and penalty-area fouls, he can review the footage on a pitchside television monitor before deciding whether to change his initial call.

Replays of incidents reviewed by the VAR will be shown on big screens during the World Cup and the crowd will also be told when a decision is being reviewed and why a decision has been reached.

However, the replays will not be shown inside the ground while the referee is making a decision, only afterwards, so the official is not influenced by the crowd.

[Nalis]

Nice logic but they should have done trials encompassing that.

 

Also, there's probably about 2/3 'tight' offsides per game. If it's an instant yes/No from upstairs re: offside or not then fine but more than likely it's going to be the protracted decision making process as it has been when used this season.

[jammie82uk]

I thought the original ruling before VAR existed already stated that if the linesman is unsure then the benefit of doubt should go to the attacking team 

Edited 13 June 2018 by jammie82uk
Clarity

[TheUltimateWinner]

Can see this causing a lot of trouble, I see what they're getting at but there's going to be so many 'tight' calls in a high paced game. 

 

You also have to factor in the human side of this rule, could really knock an AR's confidence etc. Not to mention the fact they're going against all training they've ever had up until now.

 

A lot of referees in the WC haven't used VAR before so will be interested to see how succesful/unsucessful the whole thing will be. Unfortunately I suspect the latter. 

[davieG]

Let's hope they all have the same definition of tight, can't see it myself.

 

So many law changes intended to simplify seem to create more uncertainty, confusion and controversy.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

This is going to end up like lbw and run-outs in cricket where the umpire is incapable or unwilling to make the decision and is happy to let everything go to video review.

[mancunianfox]

Am I the only one hoping that VAR fails horribly at this world cup and kills the concept for a another few decades?

[Super_horns]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Let's hope they all have the same definition of tight, can't see it myself.

 

So many law changes intended to simplify seem to create more uncertainty, confusion and controversy.

Yes - that is my fear.

 

And also we will get managers/players demanding it to be used for everything meaning we will be seeing the game stopped every 2 minutes whilst everyone argues about it because you know even with VAR decisions won't be respected.

[sylofox]

So when a lino let's it go and a goal is scored then disallowed do we chant

 

VAR is a w4nker

VAR is a w4nker

And so say all of us.

 

Or is the ref still the w4nker?

 

It's alright messing with the rules but they need to explain them in full so we all understand them.

[Craig]

So if he lets it go, a corner is won, and then a goal is scored from a corner - is that VAR'd off? If so, how long do you let play go on until there can be no VAR on it?

Edited 13 June 2018 by Craig

[StanSP]

3 minutes ago, Craig said:

So if he lets it go, a corner is won, and then a goal is scored from a corner - is that VAR'd off? If so, how long do you let play go on until there can be no VAR on it?

 

I think VAR can only be used when ball is out of play so I guess it'll be checked before the corner? 

[SouthStandUpperTier]

You just know there's going to be some really farcical moments at this World Cup, and Jonathan Pearce's head will explode trying to process it all.

[Craig]

3 hours ago, StanSP said:

I think VAR can only be used when ball is out of play so I guess it'll be checked before the corner? 

But you can't check for a corner decision, can you? It's all a bit wishy washy!

[Nalis]

4 hours ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

You just know there's going to be some really farcical moments at this World Cup, and Jonathan Pearce's head will explode trying to process it all.

Forgot we have to deal with that melt.

 

I still remember the French game in the last World Cup where he slated goal line technology for giving the wrong decision and being farcical when in fact goal line technology got it right and he was the only person watching that match who was confused.

[Jaspa]

Even more reason to start Vardy, he usually gets a couple tight calls a game. Just a question if England will sit deep enough to bring the opposition further out of their half and even if we play Vardy when we're not chasing a game

[Ian Nacho]

Until a robot can officiate the games the officials will always be making mistakes. 

[Vardinio'sCat]

 

Could be chaotic, but the worst excesses of World Cups past should be history, so I am pretty happy we have VAR.

 

Anyone who remembers the handy Argentine should appreciate not having to sit through a disgrace like that again.

[MrSpaM]

Doesn't this just mean were going to have a ton of instances where teams think they've scored only to find out it's offside 2 minutes later when VAR has been checked?