Gustafsson on VAR at Allsvenskan: “Everyone works for it”

From: By Bohman

Published: November 24, 2020 kl. 10.59
Updated: November 24, 2020 kl. 11.27

NORRKÖPING. The VAR is a controversial issue at the Allsvenskan.

Many followers are negative, but not the coaches and players.

– It’s natural that we need it. Everyone else is also working to get WHERE in Swedish football, says IFK coach Norrköping.

IFK Norrköping received three penalties in 13 minutes. Afterward, Falkenberg’s coach Hans Eklund was desperate.

– The judges make their evaluation, but in Falkenberg we never receive such sanctions. It’s heavy. This season we are 1-11 on penalties. If he is going to level now, we expect to have a lot of penalties in the last two rounds … he said at the press conference.

Eklund also said that Beijing, which had previously complained about the lack of sanctions, now received a retroactive dividend thanks to its proposals. Simon Thern is the player who has perhaps been the most critical of the Allsvenskan refereeing season, but has had no views on referee Adam Ladebäck who gave Beijing three penalties in no time.

– There are penalties. Allihopa. It’s a clumsy defensive play by Falkenberg in all three situations. Some may be cheap, but the other is totally clear and the last one cannot be discussed.

“There is no other way to go”

IFK Norrköping coach Jens Gustafsson sees only one solution to the constant discussions by referees that have characterized the Allsvenskan season. You want to present the VAR and give the referees the opportunity to conduct video analysis during matches.

– There is no path in Swedish football that does not contain VAR in the future. Virtually all other leagues have it. It is a fact. Everyone else is working to make this happen in Swedish football as well, says Gustafsson, who believes this is a general opinion among players and coaches.

Photo: PETER HOLGERSSON / BILDBYRÅN

Jens Gustafsson.

– So we don’t sit the same way after matches, you get better control and have other things to write about as well. Which I think would be much better. We have been a part of this (who have complained about the judges in the media), we have thought it was a bit great, but with good reason I mean. But there is no other way to go (than WHERE).

He wants to protect the judges

But it is an issue that divides Football Sweden. Many fans and association members are very negative about VAR and how it affects games.

Do I feel like there is a pretty big gap with practitioners and coaches on the one hand and a lot of fans on the other?

– I’ve noticed it too. But I think this is important to protect the judges. It is clear that it is a professional body that wants this help. We live in a time when there is so much help. All coaches and players have assistants available, so the referees should get it too.

Thern positive to VAR

Simon Thern, who has previously spoken positively about VAR, agrees with his coach. But he wants the aid to be used pragmatically.

– It should be used only in the right way, just as Jonas Eriksson (former judge) said. One should not go in and play between pixels and draw lines from an axis to see if it is before a toe and go offside. If you can’t see it in moving material, you can drop it, it says and continues:

– Hopefully you can develop VAR, because not everything is well defined and help has not existed for so long. It is for the sake of the judges that they have something to lean on.

Published: November 24, 2020 kl. 10.59

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