Video Referee in Football?

[Troy]

Football (soccer to some) is one of, if not the, biggest sports in the world yet regularly shocking umpiring decisions occur and they aren't able to be dealt with appropriately. Cricket, Rugby, Tennis, Hockey and many more sports use some sort of video referee for close decisions to ensure that the correct decision is made.

There have been some shocking red cards in this World Cup, some shocking dives and one shocking non-goal decision. Surely the biggest game in the world would want the correct decisions to be made especially at their largest event. There has been a long history of incorrect decisions at major events and FIFA need to get with the times and use the video technology.

They have enough money to implement it in all internationals and in the major leagues around the world. This would get rid of bad decisions like the England non-goal, it would have taken five seconds for a replay to occur and the right decision to be relayed to the onfield referee. Also any red card could be quickly reviewed before the player has to leave to field. Football is a free flowing game but with decisions like this being made it is harming the game.

Do you want a video referee in Football? Yes/No and why?

 

[R.D Punk]

As an Englishman I am obligied to say yes but my own personal opinion is I don't think it should happen and the game should stay human controlled. I mean yes, it can make the game fairer and it will make these desions better but for me, Football is about men trying there best to win and if you just take away the human desions it doesn't seem right for me. It is quite hard to say why I don't want it, it's just I don't want the game to be ruined by using it. It won't slow it down as such but it will ruin good solid counter attacks which can be built from the team celebrating the goal but that not being disallowed. It's just not my cup of tea really, if I could have my way I would change how moden the game has become. It's getting more about the technology and advances then it is skill. I mean a few seasons back Portsmoths Keepers shirt was made sticky! It doesn't take skill when all you need to do is make the ball hit your chest. I want to see the days when it's about men playing football not saying the world cup has been ruined because of the ball ect.

For me, Goal Line technology has to be tried yes, but at the highest level not just yet, the game isn't ready for it. If decisions can be made within 2 seconds then yes maybe but if it takes 5 seconds then the game will just be made poor. I mean, if you think you scored, your team mates rush to celebrate and the opposing team scrabble it away and sprint p the feild and nearly score only for the ref to blow and say the ball needs to be put in the centre? It's just unfair and should be used just yet.

 

[Troy]

You have hit the nail on the head with regards to the biggest problem with it, it takes time. Football is a free flowing game whereas all the other sports I listed are stop start games which have pauses in the game where the video replay could occur without it affecting the play.

Something needs to be done with the goal line though as that is something that is cut and dry, it is either a goal or it isn't. Can't the referee stop the game anyway and confere with the linesman to talk about whether it was over or not? I assumed that they had that power for close decisions like that.

Maybe with the red cards there should be the option for it to be removed after the game if it was deemed to be an incorrect decision therefore the player wouldn't miss the next match as punishment. There could be an appeal process where it can actually be removed and same for yellow cards. It would be great if they could yellow card players after the match for diving as well, De Rossi from Italy and Torres from Spain would have received some this tournament as they are leading the biggest dive of the tournament so far.

 

[R.D Punk]

Well, after me not wanting it, Stepp Ladder (Blatter) said that he will review the option of having goal line technology but only AFTER the world cup which is fair. He said it won't be for just the ball going across the line it will be for goals which the team dispute for example, offsides, handballs ect. I hope they gradually bring it in instead of just changing the whole thing in one go. Its going to be tricky however because I think nearly every federation of the majority have to agree to it.

 

[Troy]

There is no point discussing it until the World Cup is over since that needs to be the focus of all the attention. Problems with the event can be discussed after once everyone's emotions have calmed down to reasonable levels. They need to trial these new technologies in leagues before implementing it on the big stage. For example in cricket rule changes and some technological changes are first trialed in domestic leagues to see how they work. I am sure the A-League here would trial the video technology here since the broadcasters would have the money and the venues already set up special cameras etc. for other sports.