Match officials are battling to stay out of the headlines these days.

Whether it’s rugby or football, most games are followed by furious debate – not on the merits of the players, but rather on whether the right referring calls were made, and if they were made fast enough. 

Since the highly controversial Rugby World Cup final, which was dominated by TMO decisions, we’ve also seen VAR’s use in the Premier League take a walloping from pundits. 

VAR and TMO are essentially video-assisted referees who watch replays of moments in a match to ensure the best possible calls are being made.  

But this drive for greater accuracy has led to critics complaining that flow and soul of the game is being stolen by match officials sitting in a studio staring at computer monitors.

Newstalk ZB sports journalist Andrew Alderson breaks down the controversy of the big calls changing our most popular sports.    

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Damien Venuto
Producers: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson

Match officials are battling to stay out of the headlines these days.
Whether it’s rugby or football, most games are followed by furious debate – not on the merits of the players, but rather on whether the right referring calls were made, and if they were made fast enough. 
Since the highly controversial Rugby World Cup final, which was dominated by TMO decisions, we’ve also seen VAR’s use in the Premier League take a walloping from pundits. 
VAR and TMO are essentially video-assisted referees who watch replays of moments in a match to ensure the best possible calls are being made.  
But this drive for greater accuracy has led to critics complaining that flow and soul of the game is being stolen by match officials sitting in a studio staring at computer monitors.
Newstalk ZB sports journalist Andrew Alderson breaks down the controversy of the big calls changing our most popular sports.    
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Host: Damien Venuto Producers: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.

Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. 

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.&nbsp;
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

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