CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Nathaniel Clyne of Crystal Palace is challenged by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison of Everton, leading to a red card for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on January 04, 2024 in London, England.

Soccer

Game’s Gone

Billy Haisley

The LED board shows the VAR check which disallows a Tottenham Hotspur goal for offside during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 06, 2023 in London, England.

VAR Turned A Great Match Into The Worst And Weirdest Game Of The Season

Luis Diaz of Liverpool reacts after a goal was rules offside during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2023 in London, England.

Audio Reveals Panic, Confusion, And Expletives In Liverpool-Tottenham VAR Room

The giant screen shows a goal from Luis Diaz of Liverpool being checked for offside by VAR during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2023 in London, England.

VAR Fucked Up The One Thing It Is Supposed To Never Fuck Up

Ray Ratto

English Premier League

VAR Isn’t The Only Way To Piss Away A Game

Patrick Redford

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Ben Chilwell of Chelsea looks on after his effort is cleared by Caglar Soyuncu into Wes Morgan of Leicester City resulting in a goal that was later ruled out by VAR for offside during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. A limited number of around 21,000 fans, subject to a negative lateral flow test, will be allowed inside Wembley Stadium to watch this year's FA Cup Final as part of a pilot event to trial the return of large crowds to UK venues. (Photo by Nick Potts - Pool/Getty Images)

Worst Part Of Soccer Ruins Best Part Of Soccer

Upon further review, VAR disallows a Fulham goal against Tottenham due to the dumb handball rule.

The Handball Rule Is Now A Little Less Dogshit

The big screen inside the stadium shows that a VAR review has decided to disallow a goal scored by Josh Maja of Fulham (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on March 04, 2021 in London, England.

The Handball Rule Is Dogshit

A screen inside the stadium displays the decision to check VAR for a possible penalty during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 27, 2020

VAR