By Jack Beam
At last, someone has decided to step up to the plate and taken on the multiple issues that are lurking around VAR. It is of course, not PGMO and it is not one of the larger footballing nations either, but even so, it is still a step in the right direction. For Scandinavian football fans are unified in trying to get VAR stopped.
In an article in the New York Times, it is reported that fans of Scandinavian teams are proclaiming that they are moving in the direction of getting VAR banished. And this could be really good news for Arsenal, because VAR is one of the multiple mechanisms that are being used by PGMO and others, as a way of keeping Arsenal at bay.
And “at bay” really is what is going on here as we have shown that Arsenal are persistently getting fewer penalties awarded in their favour than other top six clubs, but are having more penalties awarded against them than other clubs in the top six. Yet in terms of shots on goal, Arsenal are similar in their numbers to other clubs.
But now in the opening weekend of the season in Norway, the fans have simply stayed away from some grounds until the 15-minute marker. And they are welcoming similar action in other clubs in the top division. And indeed there is apparently some support from the divisions below in Norway’s pyramid.
In other games, fans are taking their seats but are remaining totally silent for the first quarter of an hour in the game. Indeed in some matches, the home fans are using one of these two approaches while the away fans are using another. So you might have the home end empty, and the away end full but silent – until the 15th minute.
And of course, there are banners saying “No VAR” just to make sure everyone gets the point.
The fact is of course, that these days with stadia full, many of the clubs in the Premier League believe they can do exactly what they want, and so the voice of fans has been reduced to nothing. Now, however, the fans are showing that they can indeed fight back.
And if there is some fighting back to be done, Arsenal certainly need to be doing this, following the research that shows that Arsenal really are being intimidated by the officials and what some call their aggressive use of VAR.
Indeed, there are reports in Scandinavia that the clubs are themselves in favour of the protests since they feel they have no serious communication with the regional refereeing committees there.
Of course, there have been other levels of protests, such as the throwing of smoke bombs onto pitches during matches, but this can be a divisive approach, and is generally not welcomed. Hence, the new form of protest.
The problem is, however that while fans are at the heart of any successful football league, and it is widely agreed that without fans football is nothing, there is very little recognition of giving fans a say in how football is run. Fans are not consulted on rule changes, price rises, stadium moves, appointments, or pretty much anything else.
But maybe this time, things could be about to change..
Slightly worrying that the update on the newsnow situation isn’t forthcoming, despite being told yesterday it was coming today.
Can only surmise that legal advice is now being taken. Hope you’re ok Tony?! Pleased to know you’re still posting, and haven’t been quarantined in GCHQ!
Let’s be honest here. Before VAR, refs stuffed us. We then hoped VAR would provide some transparency but we continued to get stuffed.
Until somebody has the balls to bring a legal challenge against the PGMO we will continue to get stuffed. It’s that simple in my view!