According to Jeff Shi, in as pompous a diatribe about football as you will ever have the misfortune to read, VAR “is detrimental to the Premier League’s brand and reputation.”
Let’s face it, the Wolves chairman’s lousy argument is dead in the water the moment he mentions ‘brand’. There is a lot more nonsense.
“The Premier League’s match attending fans are becoming increasingly disengaged due to the negative impact of VAR on our match experience, which is also leading to apathy and hostility in the stands and on social media, negative and damaging rhetoric from pundits, players and managers and a destructive erosion in football’s authorities and officials.”
Where do you start? Here’s what has a ‘negative impact … on our match experience’, Jeff.
Kick-off dates and times being moved to ludicrous times because owners have sold the game lock, stock and barrel to television companies.
Rising ticket prices and outlandishly expensive merchandise, most notably the rip-off cost of buying a replica shirt that gets changed every season.
Players trying to con referees at every turn, players whose default setting is cheat mode. Players who waste time, feign injury and play-act. Managers who abuse officials and set a shocking example to junior and grassroots football.
Need we go on?
