It was an obvious kick on Origi - daft to suggest otherwise - but to be fair to James, he did run into a couple of brick walls.
The issue is that VAR is not being completely used in a black and white manner. It is black and white for offsides and handballs, but why bring this grey area for fouls? Apply it in the same way for all decisions.
VAR should be used like in Rugby. The ref tells the video ref to check specific points. And then he makes the decision on these points. The first goal: the referee asks VAR to check whether there has been a foul on Origi IF he was going to act on the findings. If he deems it not necessary he only asks for the usual things like handball by the attacker or offside. There is absolutely no point in checking the origi foul and create controversy if he wasn't going to act on it. If he had specifically asked for something to be checked as in Rugby then surely he had to act on the findings. This business of setting the bar high and trying to guess what a pitch referee could and couldn't have seen is just bonkers.
The problem lies in the type of foul. It's a contact sport - this doesn't mean it's ok to kick lumps out of people, but a degree of pushing and shoving is always going to happen. The ref - wherever he is, pitch or studio - has to decide what is enough contact to constitute a foul, so this is always going to be subjective. Add to this the fact that so many players are dishonest, falling when there's no need, instigating contact themselves, exaggerating their injury etc, that it's never going to be black and white all the time. Imo, Origi was quite clearly fouled so their goal shouldn't have stood, but you just know that there will be those that disagree. There are some areas where VAR can improve matters when used wisely, but the game will never be free of officiating errors. I think the expectations on the system were too high, and I don't feel that the game experience has been enhanced by it at all. Not for me, at least. I didn't even celebrate Lala's goal, expecting some infringement to be called. By the time it was given that instantaneous excitement that I would have had had dissipated. This is not what I want from football and the game experience is being ruined for me.
Origi was clearly fouled. After the event it's easy to say that the ref let play go on and should a goal ensue, which it did, VAR would sort out whether the goal should stand or not. The problem with this is that the ref can't possibly know whether a goal will be scored following a 'foul' situation so if you follow the logic of playing on, he almost doesn't need to officiate at all (with one exception, bad physical fouls). The VAR ref, and correct me if I'm wrong they did say there would be a team of VAR refs, thinks the onfield ref shouldn't be overruled and so we are left with - instead of 'double' refereeing, none at all. We are told these things even themselves out, we'll have to wait and see.
They have backed themselves into a corner now. From my recollection this season no foul or penalty call has been overturned they have gone with the original call each time so if one does get overturned it will open up another can of worms as the questions will be if that call was overturned why haven't the similar ones been overturned. I am with Saint on the not celebrating thing there has been quite a few occasions we have scored and not celebrated due to being a pessimist and waiting for VAR to overule it.
Would have helped if Origi held the right leg that was 'kicked'. The ref got the decision right IMO, but if VAR is to help with clear and obvious errors then this isn't the example to use. please log in to view this image
Funny how the medics treated his right ankle when they came on as well because you can't possibly twist one ankle when it was the other leg that was kicked Tackles from behind, not within playing distance of the ball, are always fouls...... allegedly.
Maybe they just didn't think it was a foul on Origi. VAR is **** but I have no complaints about it from yesterday's game.
I just don't understand how kicking someone in the calf isn't a foul? Especially when the ball wasn't there to be won.
See Pep getting his excuses in for failing in the CL already - City team aren’t ready to win the CL according to him despite spending god knows how much on his squad I’ve last 3 years
To be fair I didn't watch the game so only saw some of the fallout, this and the 'handball' being two of the main ones. Personally it doesn't look a foul in slow mo or full speed, saw a good goal chalked off scored by Mina at the weekend and no foul was evident from him or anyone else. I guess thats the opposite of what happened to Origi.
They all make for good talking points but they're not doing a very good advertising job for VAR. If VAR was introduced to make the ref's job easier, it's done that. It's just messed the game up in the meantime.