This is a great interview with Haaland. I think “better teams always tend to get decisions” is a much more plausible explanation for many of the worst VAR interventions helping the top-4 teams in this WC, than there being a big conspiracy. Question is: how do they stop it?

Brilliant that he admits he gets the decisions at City. Disappointing that it actually happens

What VAR interventions helped France or Spain? Don’t put everyone in the same basket.

In general, better teams have the ball more, get it into more dangerous positions, are better on the ball, make better passes, are faster, more athletic, make better decisions, and are better defensively- positionally and 1v1. Of course they getnmore decisions over time.

Haaland knows because he is playing for the expensive team. Money and reputation grant privileges, it was always like that. There is no conspiracy for this name or that name, if you are rich and famous you get away with things other's don't. That's what it is.

By that logic, Argentina gets all the big calls against England being the defending champions and three times winners! I doubt you will be this sanguine about it if that happens!

My feeling is that home teams also tend to get the rub of the green, and that’s what happened in the England-Mexico game.

You mean like England got in the 1966 World Cup (semi-final against Portugal and final against Germany) and Euro 2020 (dodgy penalty against Denmark)? What unfair decision did Mexico benefit from? The Kane penalty was exactly the same as the one England got against Croatia.

Hi Osita. Thanks for your messages. My hypothesis is a general one which holds up statistically. Your well thought-out counterexamples are good pieces of data but the overall trend is that large teams and home teams are treated more favourably. This is demonstrably true.

🤝

Indeed. There is plenty of evidence to support this trend of bias. Academic studies show it. The KMI panel also show every season that more errors favour bigger clubs. Totally predictable.

I’m sure this comment won’t come back up against him in any way next season…..

Is that not the conspiracy?

England has had some big decisions go against us. I feel like we’re constantly being set up to fail. FIFA clearly wants a france Argentina final so let’s see how many decisions go Argentina’s way when we play… 🤷‍♀️🤡🤑

VAR was supposed to stop it.

There were two key decisions that went against England in the Norway game, the alleged foul against Kane that led to the Norway goal, the other being the Spence penalty. So there was balance there. Can you say the same for Argentina, where every decision goes their way?

Like the foul on Kane before their goal...

If you want to knock over the champ, you have to actually knock him out. He gets the 50:50 rounds. Thats kind of how all sports work. It’s not fair, but it’s why giant killing is a thing.

I hope Balogun scandal is the beginning of the end for Infantino. Infantino era can be summarized as anti-underdog, anti-new winner and pro-traditional champions

There doesn’t have to be one massive conspiracy for corruption to be present.

Helping the top 4 teams? How has France been helped? Did you watch the game against Paraguay for example?

What a likeable lad he is. Can tell why hes so successful through this answer alone.

Is "the small details" 195cm and goes by the name Alexander Sørloth?

It’s the same thing, you’re just too afraid of looking “crazy”. Time to grow a pair

Happens in every sport. But var process seems broken. Maybe use it for less situations.

He was crap own it

I don't know about the top 4 teams, but does nobody believe the accusations of FIFA doing a money scam with the Argentina FA? Isn't that the reason

Al parecer "no sabes leer entre líneas", Haaland lo dijo todo sin decir nada y no pudiste entender.

probably more selflessness and vision from the closer teams

A lot of times better teams get decisions because better teams force their opponents to make more mistakes.

Except it’s not true in the case of England. The data tells the opposite story.

Do it like Eurovision. Popular vote panel. Random drawn experts from each competing country. Let them decide all VAR decisions

But this is a conspiracy

How have referees or VAR helped Spain so far throughout the tournament?

But why. And how.

How is that an explanation?