Today's Football

[Euler]

Middlesbrough were rubbish in the playoffs. Being spied on made absolutely no difference did it?

[ruthlessimon]

Justice was done.

Gods do exist

[invisiblelayer]

Glad I'm off the football wagon after being a fanatic for years.

Pretty dire stuff what happened to Southampton where even a fine would be hard to justify let alone dumping them out of the final.

[Euler]

As I said earlier I think with everything that's going on in football, that's me done as a domestic football supporter. I'll still follow it and so on but it's just too far removed from what I grew up with.

[firlandsfarm]

I'm glad 'boro didn't win ... let he who is without sin etc. I expect every team will spy on key opponents when possible.

[xtrader16]

As I said earlier I think with everything that's going on in football, that's me done as a domestic football supporter. I'll still follow it and so on but it's just too far removed from what I grew up with.

Too many decisions of huge consequence are being made away from the football pitch. VAR decisions are being made that could be easily influenced from outside with pre-determined outcomes. Every year VAR makes controversial decisions that decide outcomes of Championships. The handball in the penultimate Celtic league game that never was, in the 97th minute of 94 minutes allocated. Arsenal 'foul on the keeper' .The Rodri handball at Goodison in 2022 was outrageous. Now, Southampton, I don't see how they could gain any advantage by spying on their opponent, Mourinio has been doing it for YEARS. Referees decide the outcome of games.

So the question is: Who controls the referees and who is controlling the FA?

[firlandsfarm]

I think some if not many of the VAR outrage comes from those who do not know the rules in detail. I'm not saying I agree with those 'extreme' decisions such as the offside toenail but many have said the Arsenal tactic of blocking the goalkeeper is blatant fouling ... yes it is if the player deliberately blocks (bodychecks) the goalie but a player has every right to challenge for a ball or stand their ground if between the goalie and the ball. What they can't do is deliberately obstruct the goalie by moving into his path with no intention of playing the ball or holding on to him.