Sheffield United are dangerous for Liverpool
Liverpool are in danger because of Sheffield United.
Under normal circumstances, issues regarding officiating and VAR discussions are tabled until the summer. But without that lull in play which fosters such debate and conversation, it is high time to take that angry bull by the horns.
There has been much said and written this season about the horrendous officiating that has plagued the entire league. Indeed, every manager, every squad has had a legitimate grievance over some of kind of official decision that they just didn’t get right.
An off side call not given or visa versa depending on the situation, a goal denied or given due to official errors. There have been situations where the officials on the field missed the correct call and VAR doesn’t override the official decision. The level of unprofessionalism that this situation creates around a match taints the whole bloody affair.
Today, with the entire footballing world watching with baited breath the return of English Premier League to the pitch, fans watched in disbelief and horror as, in the 43rd minute Sheffield United took a free kick from the left side about 25 yards out.
The ball curled in toward goal near the far post where the keeper bobbled the catch and fell against the post before stumbling back into the goal with the ball. Everyone saw it. Everyone that is, except Michael Oliver officiating, or the Hawk Eye.
The blunder gets worse. VAR was not consulted. No goal was given.
So Sheffield United was robbed, yes indeed, robbed as if Dick Turpin himself was standing in the road, demanding they stand and deliver!
Liverpool have experienced similar, especially when Roberto Firmino’s armpit was ruled offside. I have a message for the English FA and the EPL. Get it together, or suffer the consequences.
I have watched fan support, attendance diminish in every major sport here in the States for the past 30 years.
Due in large part but not solely, to poor officiating. After the horrendous call in the waning minutes of the NFL Championship game between LA and New Orleans two seasons ago, attendance dropped 15% overall next season. Viewership on TV is also down.
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To be fair, the NFL has had problems for several years with a diminishing audience. But the point is, if fans lose faith in the officiating they will not attend, or watch. They will find something more gratifying to spend their entertainment dollar on.
There are two things that spell death to a sports league. The first, a gambling betting scandal with players coaches and refs.
Just ask Juventus.
Serie A was hit with this type of scandal in the 2005-6 season, and they have not yet recovered from that damage to reputation. Even the great Gianluigi Buffon couldn’t not escape scrutiny.
The second is poor officiating. If fans cannot have faith that games and matches are called fairly they will eventually become fed up and find something more productive to do with their time.
An official apology was issued post match, sorry lads, goal line tech didn’t work, but what about VAR? If we on NBCSN get to see it, why not the ref? I mean come on…
This is a cancer that the FA and the EPL need to address post haste. The American fan base that has grown up for English football this past decade is staggering. Now, every Euro league wants a piece of the TV action in the States.
It will take only a few seasons of officiating blunders and blown calls to lose that fan base. They too are a fickle lot, but they are not stupid either. And to allow this kind of cancer to grow and continue unabated in the Premier League is a trend that does not bode well for English football.
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I watch a lot of football from all over Europe, and all the other major leagues have pretty much adapted to VAR and have nowhere near the type of situation we see week in and week out in the EPL. Why is this English FA?
Of course, this is just one fan’s opinion, but unlike the officiating on display this campaign in the EPL, I calls em like I sees em.