Video Replays Just Won't Work in Soccer

This week has once again seen the debate surrounding the use of video replays in soccer intensify as FIFA held an Extraordinary General Meeting this week to discuss the fallout of the Thierry Henry incident.

The use of video replays in soccer has long been discussed, but the list of potential stumbling blocks and failings is seemingly endless and show that soccer is in no way ready for video replays.

Firstly, the case of Thierry Henry and his handball against Ireland illustrates some of the possible downfalls.  We all know by now, the ball came across the area and bounced, striking Henry’s hand before he crossed the ball for Gallas to score.  This is a fact, it happened, the TV replay has shown that the ball hit the arm/hand of Henry and he admitted it graciously after the game.

There are obviously a number of possibilities as to how the replay could be called for, either the referee calling for it himself or the teams having a number of challenges.  In my opinion the only feasible route for football to go down would be that of challenges, so let's assume this is what will happen.

Ireland challenges the decision for the goal to stand and the referee calls for a decision based on the replay.  As the TV ref now has time to reflect, he can asses the rules and will know that “Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of making contact with the ball with the hand or arm.”  And he will have to consider the "movement of the hand towards the ball," not the other way around and also if the ball was expected or not. 

Now, like I say, this is an extreme case, but is it possible to say without a doubt that the handball was deliberate?  I would suggest it would be very possible for two different people to make two different calls. 

Yes, it is blatantly obvious the ball hit his arm, but did his arm make a deliberate movement towards the ball? His arm was not in an unnatural position and it is clear the ball arriving at Henry was something of a surprise considering it traveled over so many heads, then was left by Paul McShane.

The whole point of video refereeing would be to play the game by the letter of the laws, and even in this extreme case, that would be a matter of opinion that could not be shown by a replay.  Only one man really knows if it was deliberate and he said it was an accident.  Henry’s goal was perfectly legal as long as, in the opinion of the referee, the handball was accidental and not a result of his arm/hand being in an unnatural position.

Now imagine this in the case of a penalty where the keeper trips a forward.  Look at Darren Bent’s penalty against Tottenham a few weeks ago.  There was clear contact with the keeper, but he was also already looking like going down. 

By the laws, any attempt to tackle, charge or trip deemed to be careless or reckless should result in a free kick or penalty.  It does not state anywhere it is not a foul if the player wins the ball and it does not state that contact must be made at all, but just that the referee must deem the attempt as careless or reckless. 

So even if Bent was to jump three feet in the air and miss the goalkeeper completely, was it still a penalty because the goalkeeper made a careless or reckless attempt at the ball?  This is where the referee works, and works well.  In his opinion, it was a reckless challenge and a penalty was awarded.

Soccer, I’m sure, could benefit in some way from video replays, but there is going to be a very fine line indeed as to whether it will work.  It will certainly need some alterations to the rules the remove the gray areas and opinion in decisions before the black and white of a replay could be used.

These two examples are just a scratch on the surface and should act as a reminder of how difficult video replays would be, and more importantly how difficult the job of a referee is.