The Everton manager David Moyes has questioned the appointment of Mike Riley as the replacement referee for his side's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Sunday (April 2009). Riley was selected to fill in for the unwell Steve Bennett, yet Moyes called for an FA investigation into whether the Leeds-born official has any allegiances toward United.

"A member of the press asked me if Mike Riley was a Manchester United supporter and I think that's something you would need to bring up with the FA," Moyes said. "If you're saying that he is, you'd hope the FA would look at it. It is something that one or two managers would have something to say about."

Moyes has an uneasy history with Riley after the referee controversially awarded a penalty during Everton's final match of the 2002-03 season, also against Manchester United, which cost the club a place in the Uefa Cup. A spokesman for the FA said the choice of official would stand. "All our referees are fair, unbiased and objective," he said. "Mike Riley is one of our top officials and we are 100% confident he will do a good job on Sunday." (source Guardian)

Last year’s Premier League seemed to be a case of the VAR trying to get involved at any opportunity, whereas the Euros VARs tended to have a quick little check and then move on unless a mistake was a big one.

The Euros referees also erred on the side of not giving fouls even when they could have, thus encouraging players to stay on their feet and not go looking for free kicks. This led to much better, more flowing football.

I’ll be happy if the Premier League can replicate this.

Video technology used correctly makes it clear to all what the decision should be. It's there and plain to see.

It's not VAR that is the problem, it is the implementation of it, the rules (e.g. offside) and the standard of officials. No change on the latter from pre-VAR days.

Video technology should theoretically right most of the wrongs of previous on the spot human decision making that we as much as anyone have been on the wrong end of. There should be little debate, just as in Rugby, because it's there to see.

Embrace it, don't fight it. Just implement it correctly and address the rules as well as the ongoing problem of incompetent officials. The technology is an enabler not a constrainer.

That was clever move by Moyes because Man Utd had a nailed-on penalty turned down that day for a tackle by Jagielka on Welbeck.

The pundits drive me crazy, well they do, when I can be bothered to listen to them. How many times in a season do you hear Shearer et al, inform the viewers that the penalty wasn't given because it was 'soft' or 'he was going away from goal!" etc when the simple fact of the matter is: Was it a foul and was it within the penalty area? – there are no other qualifying terms to be considered.

Season after season, the pundits regale us with their 'superior' knowledge, but most of them haven't a clue about the actual rules of the game.

And let's not mention Paul Merson.

I just have.

Another thing cricket and other sports do is put the decision to review in the hands of the teams and limit the number of times they can do do.

Pundits do my tits in! Either they’re drooling at the stinky six or failing to hide their boredom at being made to watch mid-table dross! Their knowledge borders that of a slug!

Stinky six
FFP
Pundits
Officials
Red shite

I hate them all

I hope Josh is doing okay and still driving the midfield for the teams he plays for, best wishes to both of you.

The rules are no clearer, ie handballs in the box, fouls in the build up to a goal. Players obstructing players or the sight of keeper.

We need clearer rules. Handball is handball end of.
The previous 60 seconds will be reviewed for any potential fouls or obstruction before a goal, penalty, free kick or corner is awarded.
Players simulating or diving will be punished with yellow cards.
Match referee reviews every 'call' to have final say and help learn from mistakes.

Every touch, contact or jump isn't a foul. Slow motion or not.

There must be a way of calculating force ie speed, weight, direction above 'x' could be considered enough to foul an opponent.

Players that 'hand off' opponents are surely also pushing and therefore fouling them. Does having control of the ball make a difference?
them.

It saddens me to say "I think that you are right". I have always believed that a player off-side in the build-up to a goal, but on-side when the goal is scored, should not be penalised. I consider that a referee or linesman giving a corner or throw-in to the wrong team, resulting in a goal being scored, is just as unfair but, in that instance, there are no VAR playbacks and that's one of the reasons I'm against it.

There is much about offside which would benefit from improvement although I doubt the current authorities possess the wherewithal to deliver improvements.

One example is when a player runs back to collect the ball in front of opponents, sometimes in his own half, but is ruled off-side because his starting position when the pass was made was behind the last opponent. Little or no advantage is gained by the attacker but the flag is raised, the whistle blows and the flow of play is disrupted. It is a nonsense.

Via injuries I'm now reduced to walking football mid week & reffing on Saturday's. For instance, I never give handball for a ball smashed at a guy from 3 yards when his arms are by his side. In the box or not, to me that's, play on.