# Omnibus World Football Thread 2020-2022 (edited) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [August 16, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264 "2020-08-16T15:38:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 92
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1822 "2026-05-04T19:00:19Z")
In Scotland, my beloved Hearts passed a big test today. I have real hope that my lifelong wait for a title north of the border is going to come to an end this year. I started supporting Hearts and Arsenal at age 8 or 9 in Pakistan just because of their cool names. Well that and everyone around me backing Liverpool, Manchester United, Aberdeen or the old firm. My second team was and is Wolves. I was a bloodthirsty little git! ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1823 "2026-05-05T02:37:06Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I started supporting Hearts and Arsenal at age 8 or 9 in Pakistan just because of their cool names. Holy moly, could this be a great season for you! > [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > My second team was and is Wolves. Oh, never mind… ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1824 "2026-05-05T11:24:26Z")
Actually if Tottenham survive as a result of Wolves being so poor, I will be very happy. I never want to see Tottenham relegated. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1825 "2026-05-10T21:01:47Z")
And Barca wins La Liga in a 2-0 against Real with two beautiful goals. I don’t really hate many teams, but Real I hate the most, those pretentious pricks with a god complex, that’s why I’m glad about this humiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1826 "2026-05-10T21:10:22Z")
Barça has just beaten Real Madrid and are therefore champions in the Spanish Liga. Ninja’d by @EinsteinsHund but I have more to add: So after 264 official games against each other, the result so far is 164 wins for Real Madrid (447 goals), 164 wins for Barça (438 goals) and 52 draws. (**[cite in Spanish](https://sportec.es/real-madrid-vs-barcelona-historial-estadisticas/)** with detailed match types and categories). Regarding Liga games alone it is 80 wins for Madrid (309 goals), 77 wins for Barça (312 goals) and 35 draws. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2026, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1827 "2026-05-10T21:35:11Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > but Real I hate the most, those pretentious pricks with a god complex, that’s why I’m glad about this humiliation. After Bayern beat them in the UCL I enjoyed a brief moment of Schadenfreude by checking out their Reddit sub. Since then, Reddit occasionally cues that sub up again, and let me tell you, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Their fans are constantly bickering and squabbling, and it’s a delight. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1828 "2026-05-11T15:08:16Z")
As an afterthought to the Barca-Real game: I only read today that Hansi Flick’s father had died just hours before the game, and that both teams played with black ribbons and a minute of silence was held before the game in remembrance. That must have been very tough for Flick. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1829 "2026-05-11T15:23:59Z")
VAR continues to be a blight on the game: > **[Explained: The four-minute wait that could decide the Premier League title...](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/11/sport/var-premier-league-arsenal-debate)** > > It was over four minutes of pure, unadulterated cinema. A total of 266 seconds that put soccer fans across the world through the entire spectrum of emotions. True words “If you look at something for long enough you’ll find something to give” ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1830 "2026-05-11T16:37:16Z")
One hand pulling him down from behind, another arm across his neck on his arm. I have no problem with this call, but it sure took a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1831 "2026-05-11T16:38:59Z")
And if it wasn’t that I’m sure they could go back a few minutes more and found something… VAR was supposed to eliminate uncertainty and debates about officiating, it hasn’t done that, but hey! at least now you get to wait for 4 minutes to see if your team scored 🤮 ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1832 "2026-05-11T16:58:33Z")
Eh, we aren’t going to agree. For more than three decades I’ve watched an endless stream of guesswork by referees of varying quality, and at least now I can see it and judge for myself…with obvious fouls like a clear handball in the box getting picked up. Part of that might be growing up on NFL games where there are already long pauses in the action…association football still feels fast to me. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1833 "2026-05-11T17:00:45Z")
After having seen many times that Barça got eliminated in important games because of faulty decisions I really hope that some day soon they will get VAR to work properly. Because it is a good idea, and there is too much at stake. It’s a shame they are doing it badly. Of course they are. FIFA and UEFA, what do you expect? It’s a wonder it isn’t even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1834 "2026-05-11T17:05:59Z")
I think that’s our main point of contention yes, I prefer wrong decisions made quickly to maybe-less-wrong-but-there’s-no-guarantee-and-it-opens-a-whole-can-of-worms-too decisions that take a lot of time. I simply feel that being able to celebrate a goal immediately is more important that whatever VAR provides, the tradeoff is not worth it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1835 "2026-05-11T17:06:49Z")
I feel like it’s not a good idea, I supported it originally but after seeing it in action I can’t support it anymore, let’s go back to the old style until FIFA is no longer corrupt… ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1836 "2026-05-11T17:10:18Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > until FIFA is no longer corrupt I won’t let you off the hook that easily! ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1837 "2026-05-11T17:13:30Z")
I was going to say “the heat death of the universe” but that was too soon. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1838 "2026-05-11T17:18:52Z")
I still believe VAR would be a good idea, like liberal parliamentary democracy, if done right. Alas! The heat death of the universe does not sound like a bad idea either. Can we agree on a cold beer as an intermediate goal? At least it is attainable. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1839 "2026-05-11T17:27:36Z")
I feel like VAR is implemented pretty well in the Bundesliga. They have a semi-automated offside system and an emphasis on obvious calls. And they’re a lot [faster](https://pressat.co.uk/releases/premier-league-averages-4m12s-per-var-delay-slowest-in-europe-new-2025-26-data-shows-feb710a83760633c50459c12e5c52bae/), though there’s still room to improve. - **Premier League** — 4m 12s (slowest) - Serie A — 3m 05s - La Liga — 2m 50s - Bundesliga — 2m 15s - Ligue 1 — 1m 55s ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1840 "2026-05-11T17:51:48Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > **Premier League** — 4m 12s (slowest) So **Frodo** is complaining about the slowest VAR decision that was taken this whole season. It was just a consequencial one. Which may be the reason it took so long. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264/1841 "2026-05-11T17:53:44Z")
Do you by chance also have a statistic for those leagues for how often a VAR call was the wrong decision? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264.md?page=91) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-world-football-thread-2020-2022-edited/918264.md?page=93)