Anyone who tuned into Wimbledon over the past fortnight would have seen how the world’s best tennis players have the right to challenge line calls they deem incorrect.
From the days when John McEnroe screaming ‘You cannot be serious’ was seen as the height of bad manners, we have progressed to a TV-friendly present when Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and co. have the right to question decisions—and have them reassessed on video.
It certainly adds to the viewing experience and according to Tony Cascarino, the former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland striker-turned newspaper pundit, football would be wise to follow suit.
Writing in The Times, Cascarino said: “Football should learn from Wimbledon’s use of technology. Managers should have ‘challenges’ when they can call for replays to review decisions. It would help to eradicate mistakes and reduce cheating.”
The sound arguments for video technology—particularly to see whether the ball has crossed the goalline—do not need repeating here but, if it were introduced, the decision to seek video help should surely remain in the hands of the referee.
Never mind the flow of the game being interrupted, how about the damage to the referee’s authority? Would it really help football to give managers official licence to query their decisions mid-match?
In Rugby—the sport football could very much take its measure from—the referee will use TV replay in order to distinguish whether or not to award a try, unlike the NFL he does not look at it personally but depends upon other parties for a verdict.
No matter the debate, many will bring up the same old arguments for and against when it comes to the holy grail that is our beloved game of football.
I do feel the governing bodies should be careful with what they bring into the game by means of technology but it should also not be left in the dark age while other sports actively push the boundaries for better or for worse.
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Alby Jnr
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3 months ago
I do not think replay is going to be in football any time soon. And if they decide to add it I would not be a fan.
3 months ago
I cant see how it would work either, If the referee was respected and left alone and allowed to do his job by players and managers there might be an argument for it to be considered.
In the current climate of deception and cheating by players, to bias and blaming of referees by managers it would be a complete farce.
Football needs to be cleansed from within before any outside influences can help it.
3 months ago
YES - for goal line decisions only however, not too many stoppages.
And how about only the captain can speak to the ref, would be a nice touch compared to the crowding of the men in the middle.
3 months ago
its a tougth one . i think cameras would be great for goal lines to see if the ball goes over the line or not but the bad side is when it gets used for sqobbles on the pitch (thats the refs job).
3 months ago
Clearly it should be used for goal line decisions. Free kicks and penalties though... not so sure, considering how many divers there are about these days.
Using it for Offisdes would be good though, if the referee could get an instant 'beep' in his ear when a player is offside.
3 months ago
I don't think video replay should be allowed in any sport.
3 months ago
It seems to work in tennis although I do think it places too much control in the hands of technology – I mean who’s to say the hawkeye is *definitely* correct 100% of the time anyway?
Challenges I can never see working as they would be used tactically to slow the game down at opportune times as they are in tennis (ie delaying a serve on break/match point). I’m in favour of goal-line technology but only if it could be implemented in most leagues and not just the top ones.
3 months ago
Challenging plays in tennis works very well as it does in the NFL too and other sports because the play is over in an instance and therefore time can be taken to review the play and thus challenge it if necessary.
Football is continuously moving and therefore would disrupt the game. It is up to the referees and linesmen to decide what happens in football. It's always been like this, and is the fairest way to decide things. Sure they can't always see what happens, but such is life and they are only human too.
If the ball doesn't go out of play, then it is impossible to stop play to review the case. Some of the best counter attacking and most exciting bits of football happen due to controversy in the game from an instance where the ball may or may not have crossed the line for a goal.
Like other people have already said, the game would slow down drastically and the excitment that football usually brings with it, would disappear and everyone would have an opinion on it.
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