That’s why I say to still release the audio but a bit later.

And it’s a penalty cos he handballed it, it’s a red for violent conduct, is what you would hear if they copied others, hardly needed.

But it’s all performative, they know and act like they’re talking live on tv.

I kinda prefer the unvarnished chaos we get to hear with VAR.

Also what’s being said is pretty much what you expect to hear.

Rugby broadcasts so much of what the referee says and it’s honestly great for the sport. Shows how players and refs should interact, gives a model for all levels of the sport.

Make all ref communication live, like rugby.

If they don’t say “let’s rock and roll that” like cricket umpires, what’s the point?

Roadmap for this technology is there to see in cricket, rugby and the NFL. Just copy it lads.

in the NFL it’s not the same as in rugby (don’t know cricket), the way it’s done in the NFL is very similar to what they trialled at the World Cup in ANZ, where the referee explains the decision afterwards.

rugby on the other hand broadcasts the whole interaction between referee and VAR

Explains is over egging it a tad.

They pretty much just announce the call, if they make one.

If they don’t make one they won’t.

Hell this week they announced one, got a quick review, it changed and they didn’t announce it.

If they put the actual NFL system in place people would lose there minds. Key fouls not reviewable, the flawed challenge system, the random quick reviews, the resistance to using tech (so goal line would be gone) and they will auto check a play that’s been ruled a TD but not one that might be but isn’t given on the field.

So a if a goal was given offside it wouldn’t be checked automatically.

And while some people think refs guess in football, in the NFL they really guess at scoring players there’s no way they can be 100% sure about and review doesn’t have an angle either way.

Yeah. Offside. Goal

Do it then?

The VAR audio is so confusing because there are so many voices.

You could probably limit it to just hear the VAR side of things, we don’t need to hear the ref arguing with players. I understand why they show that for complete transparency though, and it would still be a huge step forward.

This is why I question how needed it truly is, that work is done by an image.

Now releasing the key moments right after they happen, like team radio in F1 like be interesting.

Make half time team talk public too. Fans need to hear that.

It should be: no audio while they are reviewing the play. Audio while the decision is being communicated and explained to the referee.

Eg. “The player in question has been ruled offside, as the arm of the player X was past the offside line of the defenders Y foot. Goal is disallowed for offside”.