The Master

Speaking of next season, a very minor change I'd like to see is the draw numbers from the 5th round onwards being the order the ties were drawn in the previous round. So if the first tie out in R4 is Dundee v Dundee Utd, the winner is number 1 in the R5 draw; if the second tie out in R4 is Hearts v Hibs, the winner is number 2 in the R5 draw and so on. In the grand scheme of things, it makes little difference but it does make a true "what if" possible all the way to the final.

Are you watching the same video? For the offside check, the on-field decision was offside. Yes it was close, but the alternative to the close check is having VAR overrule an on-field decision based on "well it looks onside" - which strikes me as contrary to the position you're arguing. For the penalty, there was no "find[ing] something wrong". It was a clear penalty and red card. The subsequent check of the attacking phase of play was, again, to ensure VAR wasn't trying to do something it shouldn't. I think there's lots of things wrong with VAR, but there's very little wrong with that video. Yes it took a while, but that's because there was a lot happened, and ultimately they arrived at the correct decision. And not a "toenail offside" correct decision - it was very obviously the right outcome.

They had 13 cameras at Dens last week, including the 2 fixed goal-line cameras and the steadicam. I think you’d struggle to find 30 unique camera positions in most Scottish grounds.

“Aston Villa’s big semi”

The Daily Record regurgitating the nonsense about last season's Scottish Cup Final being shown UK-wide on the BBC. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/celtic-vs-rangers-scottish-cup-32648355 While it technically was, due to availability of BBC One Scotland and BBC Scotland on the iPlayer and cable/satellite in rUK, the clear implication is that it was on BBC One everywhere.

I’m pretty sure it is possible for two people to be perfectly in line, but it only applies to spherical players in a vacuum.

Jesus Christ.

They announced a 3pm kick-off for the final after the semi-final draw.

What odds on the SFA rolling back on their previous commitment, and making this a noon kick-off when the FA Cup final is announced for 3pm?

Philippe Clement likes this. I can't believe it's a couple of years shy of 20 years since this was first broadcast, and that you're avoiding spoilers because there's people on here who are too young to remember it first time round (if they were even born). 20 years ago should be something from the 80s. Jeez, I'm getting old. Brilliant series, though. The sequel, Ashes to Ashes, isn't bad either, and does a good job of explaining things.

With it being a Manchester derby again, it’s likely the final will kick off at 3pm. Pray for the SFA, with them having already confirmed the Scottish Cup Final for the same time.

Pass back.

It’s the first “Old Firm Final” since 2002. And if it was about keeping Premier Sports happy (not Viaplay anymore), and you believe there is corruption, it would be orchestrated for them to meet in the semi-finals.

Amazing.

Penalty to Rangers incoming?

That’ll be that then.

All three were penalties, but not only did VAR wave them away, they did so very quickly. I know England is generally more efficient with VAR, but I don’t see how there was sufficient time in any of the checks for a proper examination and discussion between the VAR and AVAR.

Why is this a screenshot of an image of a phone with a screenshot of a Tweet photoshopped into it?

That’s another penalty not given.

Given the penalties that have been given this season, I don’t understand why that wasn’t one.

The first 10 minutes of this game have been better than the entire 90 in yesterday’s FA Cup semi.

Ooft, brilliant goal for Sheffield Wednesday. Keeper and defence make a hash of it, but still a ridiculous finish from Windass.

The only person to bring the notion of “certainty” into this was @RandomGuy.. He had to award the free kick if he believed it to be one. What part of this is difficult to understand?

Because in the moment, the referee doesn’t know that. They can be confident that it’s a free kick. So confident that they subsequently give it. But allowing play to continue affords the opportunity to make sure, should a potentially game-changing incident unfold.