Nice deflection, but again you’re missing the actual point. Nobody said football is free of controversies, it obviously isn’t. The difference is in football, the VAR system is not operated by Sky, BT, or a club’s own broadcaster. It’s run independently under FIFA/UEFA protocols, with operators separated from the broadcaster’s commercial interests.
In cricket, Star/Sony not only own the rights, they also control the feeds, the angles, and even the Hawk-Eye operators. That’s the conflict of interest. So when you say cricket is “more consistent” maybe in coverage, yes, but in terms of neutrality? Absolutely not.
And let’s not ignore fixtures either. Go back and check: in almost every ICC tournament, India are conveniently scheduled to play the last group-stage game. Why? Because if qualification comes down to net run rate, they know exactly what margin is required. That’s not paranoia, it’s right there in the fixture lists. Every other team plays blind, India play with full information. Another subtle advantage built into the system.
I’m not arguing against DRS itself, I’m arguing against who controls the switchboard. Wrong umpire calls are part of sport. Broadcaster manipulation and tailor-made fixtures aren’t. That’s why I’ve been saying from the start: fair cricket needs neutral broadcasting and neutral scheduling. Until then, every close India match will carry suspicion, whether you like it or not.
In cricket, Star/Sony not only own the rights, they also control the feeds, the angles, and even the Hawk-Eye operators. That’s the conflict of interest. So when you say cricket is “more consistent” maybe in coverage, yes, but in terms of neutrality? Absolutely not.
And let’s not ignore fixtures either. Go back and check: in almost every ICC tournament, India are conveniently scheduled to play the last group-stage game. Why? Because if qualification comes down to net run rate, they know exactly what margin is required. That’s not paranoia, it’s right there in the fixture lists. Every other team plays blind, India play with full information. Another subtle advantage built into the system.
I’m not arguing against DRS itself, I’m arguing against who controls the switchboard. Wrong umpire calls are part of sport. Broadcaster manipulation and tailor-made fixtures aren’t. That’s why I’ve been saying from the start: fair cricket needs neutral broadcasting and neutral scheduling. Until then, every close India match will carry suspicion, whether you like it or not.
