VAR be it from me to endorse the Stockley Park shambles, but can we really un-invent this technology? [“VAR is a step too far”, Comment, Jan 23]. Maybe the answer is a reboot, with some more appropriate studs.
First off, the review decisions should be made within the stadium by the referee checking incidents on a pitch-side screen, with the footage available for the fans to see on the big screen. If the final verdict offends one or both sets of fans, they will still have the release of being able to shout the usual chants about the ref and lino. There is no guarantee that mistakes won’t be made, but at least they will be in full view. There also needs to be a rethink on the offside criteria — maybe judged on where the foot is, rather than the armpit.
I also still fail to see the logic of goals being disallowed if the ball touches the hand or arm of anyone on the attacking side in the build-up, whereas handball for defenders is only penalised if it is judged to be deliberate or with the arm in an unnatural position. Could we scrap that one please?
Ellie Platt
Editor's reply
Dear Ellie
VAR enough — your suggestions are really smart, assuming that reform is the right approach, rather than abandoning the technology altogether. To be honest though, I’d prefer the latter for a couple of reasons.
First, no matter whether the ref is reviewing the incident on a screen next to the pitch, or if it’s a gang of officials someplace else, it still slows the game down and sucks the fun out of things. Second, as you say, mistakes are still made with VAR. This will always be the case — tough calls often can’t be resolved even after watching the replay 50 times from different angles.
So if VAR is making the game less enjoyable (and our survey yesterday showed a majority of fans agree), plus refereeing errors can never be eradicated, why not drop this experiment once and for all?
O-VAR and out.
Rohan Silva, Columnist
Celebrate British Chinese success
In Soho, lion dancers are limbering up for this weekend’s Chinese New Year parade, restaurants are preparing special menus and expectant children will hanker after a festive red packet of coins (or notes, if they’re lucky). But there is more to celebrate about the 400,000-strong British-Chinese community — a third of whom live in London.
While first-generation immigrants toiled night and day in takeaways and laundries — as my family did — their UK-born children have flourished in a range of fields unimaginable to their parents. Today, the creativity, entrepreneurialism and energy of Chinese-heritage Londoners can be seen everywhere, from our screens to our shops. Our New Year’s resolution must be to shine a light on their successes, so that the British-Chinese are recognised for more than the clichéd image of quiet hard work.
We must change perceptions and present a more accurate picture: a modern community of varied talents contributing to our national life.
That’s why I’m teaming up with the Evening Standard to launch The Blossom Awards. On April 6 we’ll invite readers to nominate inspirational British-Chinese figures who have achieved success or made a difference.
The awards will bring to light inspiring stories of courage, determination and accomplishment, so visit theblossomawards.org.uk.
Alan Mak MP, Co-founder of The Blossom Awards
Violence isn’t the only crime threat
You quite rightly give prominence to violence in London [Leader, Jan 22], but beyond that there are many other concerns over crime. I read this week that my BR6 postcode in Orpington (a supposedly leafy suburb) is 37th in the country for insurance claims. The detection rate for burglaries and other crimes is minimal. My ward has a hard-working Pc and PCSO but 70 to 80 hours covering a large area isn’t a deterrent in a week of 168 hours.
People have to fortify their homes, be wary of knocks at the door and barricade their drives to stop cars being stolen. There is a lot of misery.
My Safer Neighbourhood Team has watched a local pub that is a known drug den. It was recently awarded longer hours, largely because the police’s licensing department (in faraway Croydon) did not object. Former Met borough commander Gerry Campbell [“To defeat violent crime we need a new policing plan,” Jan 22] is right to criticise lunatic reorganisations like the tri-borough model of shared services. His insight should be acted on immediately.
Tony Owen, Councillor, Borough of Bromley
