So Near Yet So VAR

About So Near Yet So VAR

No corporate FA filters. No dodging the hard questions. Every single week, we are giving you a direct, honest breakdown of the biggest refereeing and VAR decisions across English and Scottish football inside 30 minutes. Episodes drop Sunday evenings at 2200.

Publisher

with Mark Clattenburg and Bobby Madden

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Jul 2026

Latest episode

26 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Oct 2026

   Diop GETS AWAY WITH ONE? | Palmer & Rogers LOSE THE PLOT | Rangers' Raskin benefits from RED CARD

   Should Chelsea have finished with NINE men against Tottenham? Was Issa Diop lucky to escape a red card? And did Kai Fotheringham's challenge on Rangers' Nicolas Raskin really merit a straight RED card? 👀⚽Welcome back to So Near, Yet So VAR, the show where we break down the biggest VAR controversies, refereeing decisions, red cards, penalty incidents and offside calls from across the football world!This week, we're analysing some huge talking points, questioning the officials' decisions, and asking the question every football fan wants answered: Did the referee and VAR get it right?🔴 ISSA DIOP ESCAPES A RED CARD! IPSWICH TOWN vs NOTTINGHAM FORESTThe biggest talking point of the week! Ipswich Town defender Issa Diop received just a yellow card after fouling James McAtee during a 1–1 draw with Nottingham Forest. But should Diop have been sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)?Was the referee correct to show yellow, or was this a major refereeing error? We examine the incident and debate whether VAR should have intervened.🔵 SHOULD CHELSEA HAVE BEEN DOWN TO NINE MEN AGAINST TOTTENHAM?Cole Palmer found himself at the centre of controversy during Chelsea's clash with Tottenham. Palmer received a yellow card in the 71st minute following a clash with Mateus Fernandes, with questions raised over whether the incident warranted a red card.Then, in the 80th minute, Palmer was sent off following a late challenge involving Conor Gallagher.Should Palmer have seen red for the earlier incident? Did the referee miss a potential sending-off offence? And could Chelsea have been reduced to nine men? We break down both incidents and examine the decisions.🔵 RANGERS vs ST JOHNSTONE: VAR RED CARD DRAMA!St Johnstone's Kai Fotheringham was shown a red card following a VAR review after his studs collided with Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin's leg.Was the dismissal the correct decision? Did the referee make the right call after reviewing the incident, or was the punishment too harsh? We discuss the challenge and the role VAR played in the sending-off.🟠 DUNDEE UNITED'S DISALLOWED GOAL: DID VAR GET IT WRONG?Dundee United beat Aberdeen 3–2 at Tannadice, but Zac Sapsford's controversial goal being ruled out for offside sparked plenty of debate.Following a VAR review, teammate Daniel Bennie was judged to have interfered with play from an offside position. The decision drew criticism, with questions raised over whether the intervention was justified.Was this the correct application of the offside law? Did Bennie genuinely interfere with an opponent, or was this another example of VAR getting involved when it shouldn't?We examine the decision and discuss why this controversial offside call has left so many fans confused.🌧️ WATERLOGGED PITCHES, POSTPONEMENTS & FOOTBALL COMEDY!It's been a nightmare for football across the country, with numerous matches postponed because of waterlogged pitches.But while some games were called off, others went ahead in conditions that made football almost impossible! With the ball landing in puddles and struggling to travel any distance, some matches provided extraordinary scenes.And who benefited from the boggy conditions? Partick Thistle, who thrashed Stenhousemuir 3–0 on a waterlogged Firhill pitch!Should these matches have been played, or should player safety and the quality of the game come first?💬 JOIN THE DEBATE!We want to hear YOUR verdict! Drop your opinions in the comments below!👍 Make sure to LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to So Near, Yet So VAR, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode!👉 Follow the show, find our socials, and watch video clips here: https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR#VAR #Football #Referee #PremierLeague #IpswichTown #NottinghamForest #Chelsea #Tottenham #RangersFC #DundeeUnited #ScottishFootball #RedCard #FootballControversy #VARControversy #SoNearYetSoVAR

2. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Championship Needs VAR' | Morgan Rogers Dodges A Red | Handball Debate Rages on #VAR #epl #spfl

   On this weeks episode of So Near Yet So VAR, we dive straight into the the weekend's helping of big talking points, controversial decisions and VAR interventions, as host Gavin Wallace is joined by former FIFA officials Mark Clattenburg and Bobby Madden as they pass their verdict on it ALL.We look at Alexis Mac Allisters simulation against Brentford, which could easily have been an audition for Swan Lake, Morgan Rogers dodges a red card against Everton, Botman gets away with one at St James' Park, and following some refereeing clangers, should VAR be introduced into the English AND Scottish Championship. All this and much more, this week on So Near, Yet So VAR.Football explained by former professional referees.👉 Follow the show, find our socials, and watch video clips here: https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR#Football #Referee #MarkClattenburg #BobbyMadden #FootballShorts #PremierLeague #FIFAReferee #Referees #Soccer #VAR

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   FROM OLD TRAFFORD TO IBROX! 🔥 Bentancur's Red, Rangers' 'Handball' & Controversial Penalties #VAR

   Get the expert takes on all of this weekend's big football decisions, both north and south of the border on our first Youtube LIVE show. This week, ex-FIFA-approved referees Mark Clattenburg and Bobby Madden discuss: •⁠ ⁠Should Liverpool's Gravenberch have seen RED? •⁠ ⁠Everton opener against Hull, disallowed •⁠ ⁠Anan Khalaili offers a helping hand as Crystal Palace get away with one against Notts Forest •⁠ ⁠Fireworks at Old Trafford between Luke Shaw and Rodrigo Bentancur •⁠ ⁠Pascal Struijk sent for an early shower at the Stadium of Light as Brighton go down to 10 men against Sunderland •⁠ ⁠Fan Question: Bobby and Mark discuss their journeys to becoming a category 1 referee •⁠ ⁠Did Kevin Kelsy handle the ball for Rangers' second against Kilmarnock? •⁠ ⁠Hibs Devaney picks up a red card against Dundee Utd, after just 6 minutes on the pitch. Right call? •⁠ ⁠St Mirren capitulate as they ship 2 penalties against Hearts •⁠ ⁠Was the ref right to award Dundee a penalty against Falkirk? •⁠ ⁠St Johnstone clinch 3 points with a penalty at Pittodrie •⁠ ⁠Nick Walsh flying the flag for Scottish referees in the Champions League •⁠ ⁠Lazy refereeing at West Ham V QPR? •⁠ ⁠VAR in the Championship?

4. 

   20 Sept 2026

   Ep 5: Rice and Fernandez escaping punishment | Offsides galore

   Welcome to episode 5 of So Near Yet So VAR. Host Gavin Wallace is joined by former FIFA officials Mark Clattenburg and Bobby Madden to discuss the weekend's drama. In this episode, the team discuss: - Declan Rice missing red? - Old Firm Fernandez a lucky man? - Hearts and the Harry McGuire law Covering all the big talking points from North and South of the border over the weekend. Follow the show, find our socials, and watch video clips here: https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR (https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR)

5. 

   13 Sept 2026

   Ep 4: Haaland's Offside Shocker, Foden Sees RED, Old Firm Review and MORE!

   Welcome to episode 4 of So Near Yet So VAR. Host Gavin Wallace is joined by former FIFA officials Mark Clattenburg and Bobby Madden to discuss the weekend's drama. In this episode, the team discuss: - Manchester derby madness - Old Firm cup clash review - Arsenal penalty complaint - Villa want red Covering all the big talking points from North and South of the border over the weekend. Follow the show, find our socials, and watch video clips here: https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR (https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR)

6. 

   6 Sept 2026

   Ep 3: Quit playing games with my VAR

   Welcome to episode 3 of So Near Yet So VAR. Host Gavin Wallace is joined by former FIFA officials Mark Clattenburg and Bobby Madden to discuss the weekends drama.On this episode, the team discuss: Hand of Nico: Forrest goal chopped off Liverpool penalty claim: Gakpo goes down, in or out? Celtic’s offence at offside in Paisley: Not once, but twice Mike Dean playing games: Bravado or insanity? Covering all the other big decisions from a big midweek in Scotland, and both North and South of the border over the weekend. Follow the show, find our socials, and watch video clips here: https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR (https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR)

7. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Ep 2: The VAR Bar for intervention remains high

   Welcome to episode 2 of So Near Yet So VAR. Host Gavin Wallace is joined by former FIFA officials Mark Clattenburg and Bobby Madden to discuss the weekend's drama.On this episode, the team discuss:* Harry’s helping hand: Manchester United take the lead against Ipswich with a controversial decision.* Allison’s Anfield analysis: Should Forest have received a crucial penalty against Liverpool?* Aberdeen v Rangers: It wouldn’t be the same without some Pittodrie pantomime.The refereeing drama continues, and we will return next Sunday evening. Please remember to subscribe, like, share and comment. Follow the show, find our socials, and watch video clips here: https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR (https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR)

8. 

   24 Aug 2026

   Ep 1: England’s Premier League returns with a debut Villain, while north of the border, a Dundee derby mistaken identity debate ⚽️

   On the debut episode of So Near ,Yet So VAR, we dive straight into the opening weekend's biggest talking points as host Gavin Wallace is joined by former FIFA officials Mark Clattenburg and Bobby Madden We dissect João Gomes’ disastrous, red-carded Aston Villa debut against Brighton, Man City's late winner allowed at the Etihad after an offside flag scare, and Dominik Szoboszlai's ice-cool 99th-minute penalty rescue for Liverpool at St. James' Park. Plus, in Scotland we unpack a baffling case of mistaken identity in the Dundee derby. The refereeing drama is officially back and we will return every Sunday evening to review it for you. Please remember to subscribe, like, share and comment. 👉 Follow the show, find our socials, and watch video clips here: https://linktr.ee/SoNearYetSoVAR

9. 

   4 Aug 2026

   Season 1 Ep 1 - New beginning

   We are back! In episode 1 we review all the incidents from the opening weekend in Scottish football. With a weeks notice, some delivery challenges and selecting the wrong ration when publishing, we are now live! Feedback is welcome and share your opinions in the comments section, like follow and subscribe.

10. 

    29 Jul 2026

    Season 1 Trailer

    With the league football season fast approaching and making the decision to produce a podcast with six days to the big kick off, we have a trailer! As we await the mic and camera we quickly touch on what people can expect from So Near Yet So VAR. A fifteen minute review of all the controversial decisions every Monday morning, providing insight and clarity on those big talking points. Have a great season one and all!

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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