Nigel Owens on what he would do to improve football's controversial VAR use
Nigel Owens was confined to bed this weekend, illness resulting in the popular referee from Wales missing out on the Clermont vs Ulster Heineken Champions Cup match he had been appointed to.
However, that didn’t prevent him from having quite an extended opinion on how the rival sport of football has become mired in controversy following the English Premier League’s adoption this season of video technology.
Video assistant referees were brought into the Premier League for the 2019/20 season with a clear objective: to help make difficult decisions easier and eradicate clear and obvious errors.
However, halfway through the season, the technology continues to cause more and more controversy and it sparked further heated debate on Friday night when David Moyes’ West Ham United had an injury-time equaliser at Sheffield United ruled out by VAR.
A Liverpool fan who admitted he tunes into the BBC’s Match of the Day programme whenever possible, Owens revealed in his weekly walesonline.com column that he is frequently asked about the introduction of VAR to football following rugby’s use of the TMO [television match official] for quite a few years.
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“My reply is always the same,” he wrote. “That the modern game – be it football or rugby – is so incredibly fast that if you want to get the big decisions correct, then you need technology to help ensure that.”
Tackling the ongoing controversies that are affecting football’s use of VAR, Owens proceeded to make a lengthy assessment under seven different headings.
Offside controversy: “The officials, including VAR, cannot be blamed for this one. You are either offside or you are not. There is no grey area. In football, provided you directly influence the game, that is the rule. That is what VAR is judging on.
“Once you go to them [the VAR or TMO] to review something, it ties the referee’s hands in applying empathy and the decision has to be a technical one. Is he offside, yes or no, as the rule stands? So don’t blame the referee or the VAR officials, they have to go by the letter of the law.”
Is VAR being over-used?: “There is no doubt in my mind that VAR, and the TMO for that matter, is being over-used. Every goal is checked at the moment, for example, and that’s probably a little bit too much.
“That applies in rugby as well. We as match officials need to get the majority of our on-field decisions right and use the technology as back-up rather than to make decisions for us.”
Nigel Owens: My suggestions to sort VAR and what needs to change to solve its many problems https://t.co/c3VNS7SSwU
— WalesOnline Sport (@WelshSportLive) January 11, 2020
The time it takes to make decisions: “This is one of the big issues in football at the moment, with claims it takes up to three minutes before a decision is made. A goal ruled out, or a penalty award. People get fed up with it, and understandably so.”
Refusal to look at pitchside monitors: “While the referees may be under a Premier League directive, this is one that I cannot fully understand if I’m honest. Look, if you are the referee, you are ultimately the one responsible for making key decisions. You are the one who will be receiving the flak.”
The lack of a big screen: “Rugby referees have the advantage of being able to look at any contentious incident up on the big screen. That doesn’t happen in football and I’m not sure that is fair on the fans who have paid good money to attend the game yet are left in the dark about VAR decision-making.”
It was his first club outing back on home soil following his switch Saracens. #OSPvSAR https://t.co/ABMPYu33nS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 11, 2020
The passion being taken out of the game: “This you could argue applies to rugby, as well as football, when a try is being checked and then potentially ruled out. But by showing the incident up on the big screen, the fans become part of that excitement and the passion isn’t lost.”
Don’t shoot the officials: “This is not a question of rugby getting it right and football needing to learn. Definitely not. As I say, I feel we still use the TMO a little too much in rugby and, of course, we had our own issues in the early days.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Very unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to comments