VAR
AGAIN 
So, back to the Portugal V Iran game, the Ref "assisted" by VAR got a major decision wrong, got one right (it should have been a red card for elbowing someone in the face and not a yellow....the Ref bottled it IMHO due to who it was) and perhaps got one right in the Portugal penalty (but who knows....too much falling over like the player had been hit by a lorry, to quote the BBC) but as it was not 100% clear, should have stuck with their first decision.
I think this is how VAR is working...or not working in fact.
Ref in real time: "
Get up to cheating fool...."
Bleep in Ref's ear. VAR person: "
Ref we think you should look at at that again."
Ref...thinking: "
Oh, rude word, if I got it wrong then I won't get other games in the cup" Goes off to check and sees the slight touch, ball to hand etc and thinks: "
Well they thought it was, I must give it or go home."
Thus, I think as VAR are telling the Ref what to do, they are putting pressure on the Ref to make decisions which reflect what the VAR person thinks. Thus, the Ref's decision is no longer final.
Of course, all of the above may be total rubbish.
If we are going to have to put up with VAR it needs to change. Firstly, I would only use it upon the request of the Referee to check for things like off sides, was the foul inside or out of the box and the like: factual decisions. Then, the Ref could refer the matter to the VAR if they wanted something checking like they do in Rugby. For example, the Ref could ask the VAR who made first contact, was their pulling in the box etc. A yes or no question which there has to be clear evidence to prove.
Finally, how about allowing the team manager to have one VAR challenge per half? They could do, as they do in American Football, "throw a flag" or something and ask for a decision to be looked at again. Perhaps to make it interesting, they could ask for a second review or more per half but if they do so, then the team loses a substitute if the decision goes against them... that would make it interesting. Perhaps.... if they make a second request which fails after using all their subs, then they should lose an out field player for the rest of the game....
Frankly, IMHO, VAR is not working, and just like Golden Goals, needs to be either ended as an experiment, or fundamentally changed. I am surprised it went forward so half baked. I mean, its not like FIFA to get things so badly wrong.
