I think VAR only solves the problem of refs missing things or not seeing vital moments. At least now they get a second look. That problem has been solved. The other problem yet unsolved (and I have no solution for it) is the problem of consistency in application of the rules:
A lot of things are still at the referee’s discretion. And thus decisions will differ from one human to the other. That’s why one man’s penalty, is another man’s ‘play on’. No consistency.
How do you solve that problem?
Or is the drama, heartbreak, pain and injustice good for football viewing?
The human factor can’t be fixed. Until we start using AI and robotics for refereeing decisions, there’s always gonna be issues around ‘consistency’ in the application of rules.
I can imagine a robot chasing players back and forth… or maybe just cameras (AI) and an automated whistle, with a human ref to execute the decision on the pitch.
Let’s say a “Siri” for football. Maybe call ‘him’ COLLINA or LUIGI. (If you know, you know)
So, in that #NGAARG handball case.
Imagine LUIGI says: “Handball. But no penalty.” Maybe… maybe not?
At least, LUIGI won’t be shy to give 10 penalties in a match, unless FIFA programmed it that way. One can expect that the rules are applied, with no emotions. Even fans can see what LUIGI suggested and what the referee in turn did on the pitch. No confusion.
By the way, these are not exactly original ideas, as researchers have been on it for a while.
See this offside detection system: http://en.globes.co.il/en/article-897469
And this one too: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-642-25792-6_67
And this patent: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP1199089A1/en
And another presentation: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/dnathawa/documents/OffsidePresentation.pdf
But the stakes have never been higher than now — with betting, skyrocketing licensing fees, player salaries, TV revenues, merchandising, growing viewership and fanbase — it’s never been crazier.
Football has never been this serious. So, it may be a good time to introduce total use of technology in decision making if it’ll reduce the heartbreaks, pain and injustice that fans are quick to complain about. Right?
But do we really want to see machines running up and down the field? And if machines control the game, does that take anything away from the beauty of soccer — the drama and intrigues? Right?
One can argue for more or less technology adoption in the refereeing of football matches, but like my data scientist friend @deboxyl said,
“What is the worst case scenario here? I mean machines are suggesting friends to you, suggesting what you buy and how you live already.”
So, what’s there to fear?