When VAR technology appeared, many people condemned it for taking away “the beauty of football” and “the humanity of football,” saying that “mistakes are part of what makes it memorable, and that is Football.”
When their team suffers an unfair call, clearly a referee's mistake that affects the whole match's outcome, many people then condemn the referee and lament, “If only there were VAR,” “If only football were fairer,” “I wish…”.
Yesterday, when VAR saved Vietnam from conceding a goal, many declared, ‘I love VAR.’
Yesterday, too, when VAR ruled a penalty against Vietnam, leading to the goal that decided the match, many of those same people loudly declared, “I hate VAR.”
Over the past 10 years of building my career, I have learned this: “Whatever the hell you do, people will still find something to say.” Whether you do well or poorly, excellently or magnificently, someone will insist on talking. They talk if you act and if you do not; even if you do nothing wrong and harm no one, they still talk. No matter what, someone will talk. They will judge why you are not like this or like that. If you stay steadfast and act, you can achieve something. After 10 years, those who talk the most have accomplished “nothing,” because all their energy went into talking.
So, Vietnam, keep flying toward the future!
