- Sepp Blatter destroys a dreaded loom
More news coming out of the FIFA meetings as Sepp Blatter today announced that no, there will not be extra refs manning the sidelines at the 2010 World Cup. Why?
Well, because the “technology” is still in its experimental phase and, while change is likely coming at some point in the future, it’s too soon for that to happen now. You know, because there needs to be more committees, reports, studies, inquiries and recommendations in order to justify FIFA’s squalid existence.
Adding extra refs is good and all, but adding video replay would be the simplest and easiest way to ensure that no more Henry handballs occur in the future.
Put a fifth ref somewhere, give him access to instant video replays and a two-way radio to the ref on the pitch, let him only overturn rulings if the video evidence is conclusive, and give him only a small number of incidents that he can actually review: goals, straight red cards and penalties.
These incidents almost always result in a stoppage of play, so there is no real worry about the dreaded interruptions of the beautiful game. If there is any stoppage, it will be very brief — surely no more than a Drogba faked injury.
The upside is that the results on the pitch will be fair and accurate, and FIFA won’t be the world’s laughingstock anymore. And then, finally, we can all get on with our lives.
In the shortterm, it looks likely that FIFA is content to make absolutely no one happy by banning Henry at the start of the World Cup. I do, however, expect that video replay will happen some day… Perhaps even in the next couple centuries.
How the hell is a fifth official “technology?”
I think that’s actually Bud Selig in that pic.
@PR: I would agree with you except MLB actually has introduced instant replay! Amazing that all four major sports in the U.S. uses some form of technology, as do tennis, cricket and rubgy, yet FIFA thinks it will ruin football.
And again, to point out the idiocy, goal judges have existed in hockey since the 1800s, yet it’s too much of an advanced “technology” for soccer.
Henry’s will be like Eduardo’s ban then? Appealed and then overturned?
Yeah the two goal line judges are the only way to stop idiots from demanding video technology. They’re just ignorant, and say “It’ll be fine if we just do this…” they lay out some parameters but hardly go into detail about how it would be implemented. Basically they’re making an argument from ignorance not knowing anything about how it would effect the game and not trying to set up a system that has a chance of working. The main argument for instant replay is always, “We need it, do it.” as if that solved everything.
The NHL has mandatory instant replay of every single goal that is scored, that system works beautifully.
I don’t think the question is why can’t any of these 45 thousand methods of catching cheating cheats during cheatery be implemented, but rather how does a group of idiots like FIFA hold control over the world’s largest event
Clemantona FTW
Spec: That’s ONLY on homeruns. And after the glut of horrifically missed baserunning and line calls in the playoffs they refused to expand the use of replay.
But baseball is as pure as the driven snow, as innocent as a dozen bunnies, a symbol of all that is good and wholesome about America. FIFA, on the other hand, is as corrupt as shit.
The TMO official works beautifully in rugby. It should be no problem to implement it in soccer as well. Keep it to the minimum situations you’ve mentioned already and it won’t slow anything down.
No, Dustin, pro-replay (or pro-ball-sensor) folks have laid out specific and narrow circumstances for how replay should work on goals (and for the most part, people have only agrued for replay on goals- there is no one, repeat, no one who wants to see replay used for disputed fouls, corner or throw-in decisions– maybe for penalties, but there is enough time between a spot-kick call and take for an off-field judge to radio the ref and get it right)- all have argued that a review could be done in the time it takes most teams to celebrate.
WHY WONT ANYONE GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF IT WORKING?!?!?!?!?
You’d think that “Accredited Referee” Dustin would be all for a program that led to a fifth official to be paid to sit on an ass.
Keith…I haven’t seen one, please point it out. Also I’m a referee, big deal anyone can be one why would that mean I’d be for being paid to sit on my ass?
If only some sport had a position where someone’s job was to sit on their ass and watch to see if a goal is good or not.
If only I could find a picture of just that
My sarcasm meter just broke.
I’m with Georger. FIFA should also use those tiny chair on boxes, too. Good ambience.
@Georger: That’s totally different. A hockey goal is more square, while football has a rectangular goal mouth. Not analogous at all.
Guys, I just had a great idea. They put the goal judges not on chairs atop a stand like in hockey or tennis … they put them on dunk tanks. Refute that as a good idea, I dare you.
Only if the tanks have sharks. With lasers.