Maybe it's just us, and by "us" we mean the US -- a country accustomed to
using technology as a means to validate human officiating during our professional sporting events. As such, it came as a shock to Yanks, many of whom were watching international
soccer football for the first time, to learn that FIFA had no such system of checks and balances in play at what is without a doubt
the Earth's most important sporting event: the World Cup. In particular, the USA, England, and Mexico teams suffered severely at the hands of FIFA referees... and the tournament hasn't even reached the quarter-finals. Today, FIFA President Sepp Blatter apologized to England and Mexico for refereeing mistakes that helped eliminate the teams from the competition. Importantly, he said that FIFA would "reopen the file" on the use of video technology when the rule-making panel meets in Wales next month, adding that it would be "nonsense" not to consider such changes. Let's just hope that a solution can be applied to keep the game beautiful without turning it into some kind of stuttering bureaucracy played by men in short trousers. Regardless, surely it's time to inject a little proven technology into the game instead of relying upon the hand of god to guide FIFA's officials?
Update: The
New York Times has
a more detailed account of Blatter's statement that specifically excludes consideration of "video replay." According to the
NYT, Blatter said, "The only principle we are going to bring back for discussion is goal-line technology. For situations like the Mexico game, you don't need technology." Okaaay, then what's the solution Sepp? Afterall, it was the video replay that instantly showed the world that Argentina's Carlos Tevez was offsides when scoring against Mexico, something your officials on the field missed completely.
[Image courtesy of
iA]
posted June 29th 2010 7:05AM
@RapaNui i feel for ya, man. at least the couple calls against the US didn't knock us out.
you know why soccer is the most popular sport on this planet? because in no other sport is such a small line between the right and wrong decision for example in judging a foul, offside or even if it was a goal or not. this gives the viewer a very own impression on whats right and wrong.
if we add technology to the mix, there wont be any arguments if the decision was correct. people start accepting ref calls without any doubt. emotions get less and the game loses excitement.
im totally fine with adding a ref next to the 2 goals, but not a chip in the ball or laser detection.
@pietz I really don't think that's why soccer is the most popular game on the planet.
I'm pretty sure it's more to do with the fact that just about anybody can play it, just about anywhere.
@pietz No sense on your commentary. When you play with your friends (which I think you clearly don't) you don't need to have technology but this is the World Cup!!
With your friends you probably don't have a ref, and also it's pretty frustrating to have 30+ cameras showing the Laws of the Game have just been broken
@pietz Pure and utter bollocks!
Too much complaints about something that's known to exist for ages.
People should be more worried about their own skills in the game , not that you see... "there wasn't THE technology to give us what we deserved". Hypothetically if these people were a bit more bright (in their heads) , they should gain themselves what they think they deserve , i.e. play faster , harder , better = score. Complain about technology = pity yourself in some pub somewhere on the Planet.
It's easier to be said , compared to be done.
So actually START doing it.
p.s. to whomever feels they should be left keeping up the continuous complaints.
I thought they had sensors or some kind of tracker in the ball that would let them know if it crossed the line?... I know they used it in the Club World Cup, so why not here?
It's actually very easy to understand why FIFA is resistant to using tech to help officials - it makes it more difficult to fix matches that way.
@roxxor
+1
@pappla yea they apologize for the errors, but it is embarrassing that a call was fix to the most watch event in the world, which happens every 4 years.
I dont see why the element of chance is nessacary. it would stop alot of bitching and moaning, so i think it would benifit the game alot.
I was quite angry that the tech was not allowed but because the lack of tech helped the USA to go out I think sebb done the right thing plus we "England" would of got batterd by angentina anyway
@Original Nosebleed
the lack of tech did not help the USA in anyway whatsoever..why do people keep saying that?...2 legit USA goals was called off in this tournament.
@pappla Why dont you read my post again I said the LACK OF TECH HELPED THE USA GO OUT which for me was a good thing
@Original Nosebleed Hah, what makes you believe that goal would have helped you to win? Best case being that england would have lost 4:2 - worst case being that the germans actually make their shots count and you lose 6:2. Ask Alan Shearer...
1. Adding Instant replay system doesn't mean referee have to check the reply for EVERY SINGLE call... the system could be apply for certain situation only and have limited quota...
2. Adding technology or potential new rules are about establish a relative fair game in professional level, it doesn't change the way we play in the street/school/amateur level... i mean... we play it on the street without referees and off side rules right?
By the way "God" should be capitalized.
@Duby44 not if he's an open source god
If there is going to be technology in football i think just goal line technology. If there is video replays on everything the game would be slow and boring to watch. The only way i can can see video refs is if they make a a snappy decision otherwise a no from me.
Also The guy that invented the tennis hawk eye has a version for football but so far fifa has been ignorant of this.
STOP CALLING IT SOCCER
@pappla
stop yelling.
Germany FTW! Neuer got the ball and continued pwning England.
But it's the game. The game is fun becaus of this faults...
To be honest that goal by Gerrard should have been counted but still it wouldnt have made a difference to the score of 4-1 to Germany
@FuturismRave
yes, because your strategy at 2-2 would be to continually expose yourself to counter attack at the back. right.
@roxxor Shh kid, dont talk when men are discussing football.
Nice Maradona reference at the end!!! BRASIL FTW!!!
So, how's all that replay assisted sports umpiring working out for you guys in baseball then?
@tonethebone not bad:
"Since 28 August 2008, Major League Baseball has inserted the possibility of reviewing close calls on balls hit near the foul poles and the outfield fence, to decide whether a ball hit is fair/foul or to see if it hit the wall or if it hit the yellow line to make it a home run only. [6] Since umpires are often more than 200 feet away from the foul poles or the outfield fence while making a call, MLB saw instant replay as an appropriate way of helping umpires make correct calls on outfield balls. "I believe that the extraordinary technology that we now have merits the use of instant replay on a very limited basis," MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said. "The system we have in place will ensure that the proper call is made on home run balls and will not cause a significant delay to the game.""
that's from wikipedia. do a little research before you run your mouth.
@maveric101 yep .. my bad: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37479309/ns/sports-baseball/
@tonethebone at least it's a start. i never said it was comprehensive, and the suggested tech for FIFA isn't comprehensive either. all FIFA is currently considering is goal-line cams.
the article you link to refers to an instance where the ref was mere feet from the plate, had a clear line of sight, and still screwed up. there are fewer players on a baseball diamond, the diamond is smaller, and there are fewer players, allowing refs to generally get closer and have clearer lines of sight to call plays. it's often harder for soccer refs to see, so replays would benefit them more.
even so, at least that baseball ref owned up to his fucking mistake. i'm not sure about the other FIFA refs that fucked up, but the Mali guy refused to make any comment or even say who the penalty was on. even FIFA has refused to make any statement on it.
lastly, why does it matter what baseball has or hasn't done? especially since you people love to rant about how shitty baseball is and how the rest of the world doesn't care. "baseball hasn't done it, why should we have to?" "that other guy hasn't taken a shower in three months, why should i have to?"
This would have been good as a poll post...
The US qualified on top of the group. The botched goal call didn't hurt them at all. It was because of the botched Frank Lampard goal which could have turned things around 2-2, and the botched Argentina 1st goal against Mexico.
It literally takes 2 seconds after the play for the 4th official to rewind, watch it, and let the ref know.
FIFA using Apple's iPhone 4 will help solve all this......
/sarcasm.
They should make FIFA video games where the ball goes in but play continues
"Regardless, surely it's time to inject a little proven technology into the game instead of relying upon the hand of god to guide FIFA's officials?"
I'm sure you meant 'God' with a capital G, right? Also, I'm pretty sure God has more important things to worry about than the officiating in a sport as lame as 'football', I mean SOCCER.
@enoughcongress
oh man, you sure need to catch up with your football.. God does have more important things to do... right now God, including the Hand of God, is coaching Argentina..
by the way.. doesn't the fact that you guys are the only ones calling it soccer tell you something?..it IS called football... sorry to break it to you, but your not the center of the universe
@pepe
*sigh*
If it can be called "soccer" in the country that invented the sport (and the word) then it can be called soccer anywhere.
@roxxor
actually, it's been called football since it was first played..
you can call it soccer or anything you like.. i'm just saying, don't imply that it isn't called football just because you americans have american football..
that being said.. I really dont care how you call it.. just dont say it isnt called football
Are you insane? Yeah, let's stick with and old broken system because we don't want to change. Who cares about things like "goals" counted correctly anyway?
The last I've heard, they want to introduce goal-line assistant referees. This solution would have the advantage of providing employment to aging (but experienced) referees, who are no longer capable of running almost non-stop for 90-120 min. No technology at all.
FIFA are constantly rigging games and influencing refs. I know 2 refs in England who left because of corruption in FIFA. they told me that FIFA will do everything they can to stop video technology being implemented. As soon as it is in play, they lose power and hence lose money
There is no reason not to use technology to enhance officiating.
@The Missing Link: there are many reasons, but you bastards seem to have ranked them all down into oblivion… most of the reasons are about making the game more emotional for the viewer; there's a lot of money in there! if all they wanted was to "improve" the game, why don't they allow doping?
Most sports are contact. Even basketball is a contact sport on a level. If you made it to the "Big Leagues" then man up. I fell in love with American Football watching NFL Films and seeing how those old school dudes played. Hell some even played with broken bones!
Sports have become something shallow of what they used to be in many ways. Technology can help in some aspects but just the same it can harm the game even further.
I kind of don't get the argument that video reviewing will slow down the pace of the game. Why can't the players just keep playing, the clock, keeps on running, the game keeps on going, but if the video review says otherwise, then they just change the score on the scoreboard? I know it's not as exciting making a clear goal, but it would not have been exciting either way since it was confusing to human eyes in the first place. I mean, this isn't that fair of a comparison, but I see the NBA officiators change a 3 point shot to a 2 point shot all the time in Basketball WHILE the players are still moving around and making plays. That's just my small input.
WTF is up with the downranking of all the opinions against the technology? I thought the ranking system was meant to hide boring entries and trolls, not censorship! Seriously… someone needs to address that!