Do you know why football is the most popular sport in the world by a mile?Because of its simplicity.All you need for a football game is a ball. Nothing else.You don’t have goalposts? So what. You’ll put two stones, bricks, or even shirts would do, and there you are, between the sticks.You don’t have an artificial, state-of-the-art pitch? So what. You’ll play in the muddy streets of Eastlands, Nairobi, or wherever you find a tiny space to shout the name of your favourite striker once you score.##NAJAVA_MECA_8167923####EDITORS_CHOICE##You don’t have modern, expensive football boots? So what. You’ll play barefoot and make that ‘ouch’ look on your face once you accidentally stand on a piece of nail or any similar object.You don’t have a licenced coach to tell your team how to play? So what. You’ll use your intuition and the talent you’re born with.You don’t have a fancy-dressed referee with FIFA’s badge on the shirt? So what. You and your friends will officiate the game yourselves and trust each other, whether it’s a handball call or penalty or whatever.And that’s, my friend, the main reason football is so damn popular and widespread around the world. It can’t be simpler than that – ball, passion and love for the game. That made it so big and keeps it on the throne despite dozens of other exciting sports and sensational athletes.But all that could vanish soon.VAR is killing football. Lois Openda’s “handball” was made with his hand in a completely natural position, and his barely perceptible touch did not alter the path of the ball whatsoever. Belgium robbed of a point due to pedantic bullshit, match-going fans experience ruined. pic.twitter.com/AHhSoKNt2i— Cameron Wilson 韦侃仑 (@CameronWEF) June 17, 2024 And don’t jump to conclusions – football is not in danger because of those cutting-edge pitches, expensive accessories, highly skilled coaches who have an endless need to exploit half-spaces and zonal marking, or referees, after all.No, the human desire for justice will permanently ruin the whole thing. It started with the notorious VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system and endless reviews, which have been an essential part of every serious football game for a few years now.What if VAR was one of us?OK, some offsides were prevented, some goals annulled, some officiating mistakes corrected.However, the game lost its casual flow. You can not celebrate a goal properly anymore because you never know if another heartbreaking VAR review is just around the corner, waiting to spoil it for you amid euphoria.But, sure, who could object to the need for more regulation and justice? Some sort of compromise is inevitable and beneficial for football.Alas, this has gone too far.Oh, look, it’s the quality of a player that matters and not of the leagueTake a look at, for instance, yesterday’s EURO 2024 clash between Belgium and Slovakia. The Eastern European underdogs fought courageously, prevailed and won the battle against the favourites. Still, the Red Devils would have clinched a late draw if Romelu Lukaku’s late equalizer hadn’t been disallowed due to Lois Openda’s handball in the build-up.But the almost forensic CSI method of reaching that decision got us out of our chairs. UEFA got the chance to show its new feature for the first time, which uses – check this out – a ‘heartbeat’ line to prove the ball, which has a chip inside it, has been touched by the hand!? It was expected this would be used for a player who had scored a goal rather than a possible deliberate handball in the build-up.”If you need it to prove the handball, is it really that consequential to the goal?” our ESPN colleagues noticed immaculately, while legendary Gary Lineker was a bit more straightforward…Bullshit decision!— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 17, 2024 And we can’t help but ask – what’s next? Would an on-the-pitch lie detector be used for situations when even that ‘heartbeat’ gadget fails to register a contact that seems to be there anyway?Where does this madness, this sought-for-justice-turned-to-witchhunt stop and end?Openda’s handball seems to be the last call, the last chance for a much-needed sobriety. An opportunity for us to draw the line (not the VAR one, for Christ’s sake) and take back our beautiful game until it’s too late.Or the AI side will win this title.By: BOJAN BABICEUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP STAGETuesday19.00: (1.85) Turkey (3.50) Georgia (4.40)22.00: (1.55) Portugal (4.00) Czech R. (6.25)Wednesday16.00: (1.53) Croatia (3.90) Albania (7.00)19.00: (1.35) Germany (4.90) Hungary (9.50)22.00: (3.70) Scotland (3.40) Switzerland (2.05)Thursday 16.00: (4.10) Slovenia (3.50) Serbia (2.00)19.00: (5.60) Denmark (3.70) England (1.65)22.00: (2.30) Spain (3.30) Italy (3.20)***odds are subject to change***
