Video Technology In Football

Video Technology In Football

Video Technology In Football

On 27th June 2010, Germany played England in a football match for a place in the final eight of the World Cup. During this match, Frank Lampard scored a perfectly good goal for England and the goal was disallowed by the match officials who said the football had not crossed the line. Later that evening, Argentina played Mexico in a football match for a place in the final eight in the World Cup. Carlos Tevez scored a goal for Argentina from a very clear offside position, yet the match officials allowed the goal.

Two unacceptable mistakes by match officials that may very well have cost England and Mexico a place in the final eight of the world cup. Every single person watching the Germany v England match could see clearly that the Frank Lampard goal was valid and every single person watching the Argentina v Mexico match could see clearly that the Carlos Tevez goal was not valid. But why could we all see what the match officials failed to see? Video Technology!

The cry for the implementation of video technology in world football has thus far been ignored by Sepp Blatter and FIFA. Sepp Blatter has issued an apology to the English Football Association and said that Goalline Technology will be discussed at a meeting in July 2010. Goalline technology would indeed see an end to mistakes such as the Frank Lampard goal, but what about poor Mexico? How will goalline technology prevent incorrect offside calls by match officials? How will goalline technology prevent incorrect penalty decisions by match officials? The only purpose goalline technology serves is to determine whether or not the football crossed the line. This just is not good enough!

The fact is we need video technology in world football and we need it sooner rather that later! Here is an example of one possible system;

There is a fifth match official (video referee) who has direct communication with all other match officials and has direct access to video technology to view a replay of any offside, penalty or goalline incident.

The match referee can call upon the video referee at any time during a match to request a second opinion on any offside, penalty or goalline incident.

Each team participating in a match can challenge an offside, penalty or goalline decision by the match officials on 2-3 occasions only and the video referee can be consulted. Any challenges after the allowed number of challenenges will be ignored by the match officials.

This is just one possible system that could be implemented. A system such as this would greatly reduce the number of mistakes made my match officials and therefore reduce the pressure on match officials. Match officials are only human and they will continue to make mistakes. I am sure that the majority of match officials would agree that a video technology system would make their job a whole lot easier!

So, Sepp Blatter and FIFA will meet in July 2010 to discuss goalline technology. Most likely we will see the same old comments after the meeting - it's not the right time and we will discuss it again in the next meeting. Eventually Sepp Blatter and FIFA will bow to pressure and announce that goalline technology will be implemented in major tournaments, probably starting with the World Cup in 2018. This would simply not be good enough. Forget goalline technology, we need full video technology in world football by the 2012 European Championships, or at the very least by the 2014 World Cup!

I have set up an online petition aimed at Sepp Blatter and FIFA regarding the absolute necessity for video technology in world football. I have included a link to the petition below and I ask anyone who reads this article to sign the petition and show your support. Thank you!

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