The Emirates FA Cup 2023/24

[The Lusophone]

I'm reminded of a story from, of all places, Graham Poll's book. He tells a story of a UEFA refereeing conference where Collini, recently made head of UEFA refereeing at the time, did a presentation where he showed a clip of two players in an aeriel challenge and one elbowed the other in the face. He asked the assembled refs what card should be shown to the offending player.

To a man, the 25-30 refs in the room all said a red card. Collina disagreed, saying that a yellow should be awarded as the player didn't clench his fist as he went up to challenge for the ball and so wasn't intending to do it, as if he intended it he'd have tried to put power into it, and to do that you need to clench your fist, in Collina's view.

Is Collina right there? Or were the other refs? Ask a dozen refs about an incident and you'll likely get differing (relatively) opinions on it, and I feel like expecting 'consistency' to the degree that fans demand is rather missing the point about these being subjective decisions.

[Colly]

I'm actually scared by how much of this is exactly what I just said...

 

[METALMAN]

Can we split all the VAR chat into a separate thread so those of who aren’t interested (me) don’t have to read through the same arguments over and over again. It’s made football podcasts (even more) unlistenable, don’t let it do the same to EWB!

[Baddar]

No

[Szumi]

On 29/02/2024 at 05:23, Baddar said:

If we're gonna talk about decisions last night, how about VARs "Is Casemiro the offender? No? OK, move on" bollocks.

I'm pretty sure this wasn't a red card because the center ref and VAR equally were both just so happy to see someone doing this to Bruno because they can't do it themselves like they wish they could do.

[gunnar hendershow]

49 minutes ago, Szumi said:

I'm pretty sure this wasn't a red card because the center ref and VAR equally were both just so happy to see someone doing this to Bruno because they can't do it themselves like they wish they could do.

They instead gave him a thank you card.

[Colly]

It's just a Jim Neidhart beard stroke isn't it?

[Gazz]

22 hours ago, Baddar said:

No

As EWB's Video Assistant Referee, I feel like this is a clear and obvious error, so you should review your initial decision.

[Colly]

Absurdly long VAR check here, it's obvious there's no camera angle to show it's a clear handball so the goal should stand. It's getting silly.

[Cymbols]

That’s a proper cup tie

[Szumi]

What a comeback. Wolves score 2 in five minutes to go up 2-1, only for Coventry to equalize in the 97th minute and win it in the 100th. Incredible 

[Bobfoc]

Go on and win the whole thing now, Coventry.

[Colly]

Nothing worth saying about this game other than I hate that double advertising hoarding shit. Shouldn't be allowed.

[gunnar hendershow]

Start time was inconvenient for me on a Saturday and, well, didn't miss much it appears.

Wolves-Coventry was incredibly slow when I was watching but I missed the entire 2nd half and, evidently, some magic.

[stokeriño]

Not sure whether it feels more inevitable for Man City to draw Coventry in the semis, or for Chelsea to squeak past Leicester, squeak past Coventry, and then lose to Liverpool again in the final.

[stokeriño]

Get Raheem Sterling the fuck out of my club.

[Baddar]

Chuck Sterling on the pen when Palmer could've just twatted it in instead.

Hope they go on to lose now.

[stokeriño]

18 minutes ago, stokeriño said:

Get Raheem Sterling the fuck out of my club.

 

[therockbox]

Cole Palmer could be a great little backup option for England.

[stokeriño]

Absolute textbook Chelsea performance so far.