Why you aren't watching the world cup

[Cruentus]

Yeah, this is a gross development. The news that Balogun's suspension was going to be, er, suspended was kind of fishy on its own already, but this is a bad look for everyone. I think it was a legit red card, but, even if it weren't, there have been more egregious red card suspensions that have been enforced. I wish I could say I was surprised by any of it, but it's entirely predictable.

Its frankly an embarrassment, especially considering who asked FIFA to review it. I won't say any more, and I'll be rooting for Belgium, and I will continue to not watch.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Apologies, I was unintentionally vague. I meant to say that FLOPPING exists for yada yada yada reasons, not the VAR. That was unclear from my phrasing.

Oh, yeah, we agree on that. If they called simulation with any sort of regularity, that would be great.

 

[Whisper-Kitten]

I am doing my bit for England by not watching the world cup.

Here is how it works:

If I watch or can even hear an England world cup match and how it is going, England will draw or lose.

Now, might they draw or lose anyway? Yes. But if I don't watch or otherwise perceive the match, they might win!

You may say, Ruin, this is insane, Ruin this is the worst kind of sports superstition, and I would say yes, correct on both counts! And yet... and yet I cannot shake this, and as such I will not be watching any world cup matches for teams I like because it is my belief that the moment I genuinely care about/support a team in the world cup this curse will apply to them also!

I probably deserve some kind of medal fory brave service to England here but I shall soldier on without, somehow!

(PS one of most vivid childhood memories is balancing on a big fallen tree trunk in a forest whilst on a school trip, and being told about the Maradona handball, and being so appalled I lost my balance and fell off directly into a patch of nettles. So I hold Maradona somehow personally responsible for all this!)

Perhaps you could rent your services out and watch all the teams that you want to see lose.

 

[Marc Radle]

Its frankly an embarrassment, especially considering who asked FIFA to review it. I won't say any more, and I'll be rooting for Belgium, and I will continue to not watch.

Yeah, not thrilled about who requested the review either honestly (speaking as a US fan here in America)

I guess I would just say please don’t blame the US team though. It was a very questionable red card to say the least and I don’t think either outcome (keep him out of the Belgium game or let him play) would have been completely fair.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Just got to see highlights of Norway vs Brazil.

Haaland won them that game with 2 nice goals, but Nyland kept them from losing. 2 excellent individual performances.

 

[Clint_L]

Yeah, not thrilled about who requested the review either honestly (speaking as a US fan here in America)

I guess I would just say please don’t blame the US team though. It was a very questionable red card to say the least and I don’t think either outcome (keep him out of the Belgium game or let him play) would have been completely fair.

I 100% blame the USA team!!! Having the President intercede on your behalf? Any victory for them going forward is completely tainted in the eyes of the rest of the world. Talk about terrible sportsmanship!!!

“Questionable” (especially from one side’s perspective) calls are part of every sport. The President of the host country bullying the tournament into changing their ruling in the USA’s favour is appalling and an embarrassment for everyone involved. If the US team had any honour they’d decline it.

If they win now they’re the team who cheated to do it. They should be horrified.

 

[GuyBoy]

Actually enjoyed the Mexico v England game a lot.
Sadly, my utter disdain for the corruption of FIFA has been proven once again by the disgraceful decision to give in to the President’s pathetic need to “ Make America great” by poor sportsmanship and total absence of honour or integrity.

 

[GrimCo]

The problem is, with the way the game is currently being played, you might get an avalanche of VAR stoppages, disrupting the flow of the game. It would eventually return to a more fluid state, but until then, soccer might become almost unwatchable.

Problem is, we have modern technology used to officiate rules of the game which were written before said technology existed. Offside rule for instance. Rules were written before we had 4k resolution and 17 cameras covering the pitch from all the angles. It was written counting on what line referee could see.

Football is notorious on how slow it is with rules change. We are at the point we need to either have drastic rules overhaul to align them with modern tech or reign in tech used.

 

[AnotherGuy]

The corruption and ridiculous calls is enough to turn anyone off.

 

[Pale Violet Light]

Problem is, we have modern technology used to officiate rules of the game which were written before said technology existed. Offside rule for instance. Rules were written before we had 4k resolution and 17 cameras covering the pitch from all the angles. It was written counting on what line referee could see.

Football is notorious on how slow it is with rules change. We are at the point we need to either have drastic rules overhaul to align them with modern tech or reign in tech used.

I know that there are upsides and downsides to both approaches, but I prefer a little loss in fluency if it cuts down on the amount of diving. When big games are getting decided by some prima Donna writhing about on the ground, judged by a referee 50 yards behind the play who can’t possibly see what happened, it makes a mockery of the whole sport. VAR is a necessary evil.