R26 vs Sydney FC | Sat 8th April | 7:35pm | ROF

It ruins the flow of the game even more in football. In league it's only used when a potential try has been scored, so play has already stopped when it's called. How this is set up, play goes on for half a minute before it gets called back to stop the game. Phoenix actually could've scored when broke away before VAR was called, which I assume would then be disallowed and go back for penalty at other end.

This x 1000.  I hate the whole concept of the VAR, but if they are going to use it, they need to take the time to at least get the fudging decision right.  I don't think it even occured to the VAR to check to see if Rossi was fouled, they were just focused on seeing if it hit the hand, and getting the decision done quickly.  

For me the main issue with the VAR was the ridiculously slow decision making- it's true we could've scored from the continued play, which  would have been chaotic. For me, it was the right decision - and looking at Rossi's body language afterwards, I think he knew it was a penalty too. If it's not to be completely disruptive, I like the 2 reviews system of hockey and cricket. In hockey it seems to badly slow the game at all; in cricket, the pace of the game is perfectly suited to it.

A-League refs are incompetent as it is. Their reluctance to actually make a half decent call and be in good positions to make said calls is just baffling. Sure, if you looked at those replays tonight, of course Rossi handled it. So that's what the guy in the hot seat looks for - Did he take into account the nudge in the back from the smurf beforehand? 

I don't know how others might feel about this over reaching technology being injected into our game, but I would rather have the drama, the banter, the opinions, and discussions with mates, colleagues and the like;  that to me is what football is about - It's drama, it's passion, it's contention and debate.

To me, the VAR will take that away. Sure, you can rule on goals, whether the ball has crossed the line in tight calls that come down to millimetres - that's what I'd call a positive piece of technology. But when you've got a subjective referee as it is (let's assume they're subjective...) then surely is that not enough? Why even have a referee in the first place? 

Too much dallying on decisions and multiple stoppages to review incidents that a referee should be confident enough to make in the first place is exactly why I don't really watch Super Rugby or the NRL. Just get on with the game that we love. Football has lasted long enough as it is, why change it now? 

and all that said - what a great last few weeks of football. In terms of momentum and quality play in the last month or so, we really deserve to be in the finals. Yeah- I know, so much wasted early season opportunities and disappointment, but it has been Magic the last wee while.

Amusingly if we had VAR in the first Sydney game as opposed to the last, we'd be in the top 6.

Can't remember the incident? vid or gif? And...are you sure?

Fever in good voice tonight

We had 2/3 offside goals scrubbed out

No way were there 6,000 at that game, 4 at the most. VAR and the crap quality A League officials could not even get that right. Incompetence at its best and it is sad to see match officiating is just the same level now as it was in year 1. If you wanted passion, the fans turned up with that VAR, kiwis dont mind a fair shake of the sausage but from that moment on, the ref bottled it for the rest of the game and the crowd let him know it...and rightly so too.

Well that is ten seasons of home games over for me now. And what a way to finish it. Thanks to the fever in the pub, I scored 3 good tee shirts, met some very nice Sydney fans, had a pretty good time over all. Fingers crossed in 6 months and 1 day, we have a new coach, a few new players but the very same fans that stand around me again. I was surprised the Nix did not do anything at half time as such. Just seemed to smack of taking fans for granted.

Takes care my fellow Nix fans, our season might not be over and I hope not. If only we shoukd the effort in far too many other games as we showed in this on the field.

I think it's an serious illness in the family

wouldn't have been a hand ball if the Sydney player wasn't pushing down on rossi shoulders

This was interesting from the Nix's match report: " The fourth official advised the coaching benchs that the incident was going to be reviewed, but referee Shaun Evans proceeded to then blow full-time."

https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2017/ap...

Anyway, ref controversy aside, that was another good performance from us against a very good Smurf team. These last few weeks we've looked like a top 4 side IMO, but I don't know if it's enough of a run to justify keeping Buckacre.

Still think we got the raw end of the deal i thought Rossi looked like he copt the first foul and the officials never did antything until the Sydney players converged on the ref.Never realised the VAR was going to be player driven.

Having seen it in used in two of our games i just dont like it and sorry like the review system used in other sports they dont seem to be able to get it right.Just dosnt add anything to the game for me.just left me PO. 

Phoenix screwed by the team in Yellow n Black. 

Was the climbing on On Rossi not a VAR consideration under its terms of use? 

I think the VAR will be a pub quiz  question in the future:

The VAR was first used in the A League. Name the city it was first used?

We did something before Melbourne Victory. We are pioneers!

Chant of the night..stick your VAR up your arse. As for not using the same technology in the last minute says it all. Not only do players cheat but match officials are either completely incompetant or they are now severely questionable. I would not let that referee ref a sunday pub game on his second half melt down. If the 4th official wanted to review it, the referee should have gone through the process. He didn't, he failed....or did he?

The only technology I want in football is the goal line cameras, did the ball completely cross the line. I do not want this turning into a rugby union/league circus where it holds up the game. Only the FFA and hib quality A League referees could take something simple and completely fudge it up. I hope heads role.

New rule for players, if you want to get ahead, everyone is to surround the referee and bitch to him until he folds. It bit like Man United when Roy Keane and Giggs played.

VAR should be used during pre season, so it doesnt cost any team attempting to get into play offs.

Using this at a crucial time is silly and fustrating, as we saw last night.

All said about VAR, I feel we were really clutching at straws relying on other results to get into the play offs.

Without VAR we would have won and been in the mix.

So the VAR works the way the officials checking for the Chris Payne handball goal did? 

This is our playoffs. It's actually been a good end to the season excitement wise.  It feels like a promotion scrap where Perth and WSW won.  And after our form against the top two, who'd have bet against us in a finals series?

I think you'll find the [official] correct answer will still be Sydney or Melbourne, if the FFA have anything to do with it

The sad thing is we had 25 other matchs before last night to get ourselves comfortably into the Top 6.

New FFA rule for next season. If those Kiwis dont like it, just pick up the ball and come home.

They were quite  a friendly bunch.

Look at their season! They haven't been stressed all year...

Last night was amazing.  Brought my just turned 3 year old to the game so sat in the front of the zone instead of in it.

His very first time at the stadium and his very first sporting match, he was entranced by the stadium and the lights.  Then when the fever zone exploded at the goal and I was jumping up and down celebrating he was just watching the zone behind us with a huge smile on his face.

God I hope the Nix goes nowhere as last night would be one of my own personal favorite experiences.  I want to take any future kids, and if I'm lucky, their kids to the Nix.  Please Nix, survive.

In this case, the VAR was used correctly under the current VAR guidelines. I personally think those guidelines are flawed, expecially for penalty decisions.

Just does not work full stop. Quit it before it starts. Goal line cameras- Yes, VAR - No !!!!!!

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

(Not arguing with you, but with the stupid fudgeing rules)

it was still a farkin good night, cant wait till next season. time for the club to tell us whats up.....