2010 FIFA World Cup: Should FIFA Adopt a Video Replay System?

Soccer is judged subjectively.

One referee's judgement is affected by many different aspects that occur during a game. Bias, fatigue, and personal preference all can have an impact in a referee's mind.

Since soccer is a subjective game, we must realize that humans aren't perfect. A referee, no matter how hard he tries, cannot execute a perfect game.

This is why FIFA must adopt a video replay system to assist in calling the shots during important matches.

I understand the referee's job is very difficult. Making calls that affect an entire nation's hopes and dreams is one of the toughest jobs on the planet.

At times, a referee will be scrutinized and blamed even more than the players who actually play the game.

It's easy to say, how did he not see that call? Is he blind? What could possibly make him think that was a good call?

But the truth is that one referee cannot see every little thing that occurs on the field. One man given the job of covering an entire field throughout the course of a game is bound to miss something.

And, much of the time, that one thing that he misses could change the course of the match.

Yes, there are two touchline referees, but they are usually in charge of offsides calls, touchline infractions, and are too far away to see plays that occur in the penalty box.

The infamous "Hand of God" by Diego Maradona: a clearly illegal goal that helped Argentina defeat England 2-1 and allowed them to advance to the 1986 World Cup Final.

Thierry Henry's blatant hand ball that allowed France to advance to this year's World Cup.

The recent controversy involving USA's disallowed goal against Slovenia that forced the United States to settle for a tie instead of celebrating a decisive victory in Group C.

It's calls like these that make me believe a video replay system would be beneficial to the game of soccer and would only enhance the game's image.

The American leagues, such as the NFL, MLB, and NBA, have replay systems to help assure that the game is called fairly if the referee isn't able to catch an important call.

The NFL allows two coach's challenges to give the opportunity to referees to go back and re-evaluate a controversial play.

In a buzzer beater situation, referees in the NBA go back and watch the shot again in slow motion to assure that the right call was made.

The MLB is on its way to adopting a replay system to help make decisive calls, such as a close first base finish between the runner and when the ball gets to the first basemen's glove.

If a video system is adopted, there must be some guidelines for its use.

Soccer is a continuous game. Challenging every offside call, or every foul that occurs is not what I am proposing.

Each soccer match would be a minimum of five hours long, and would be exhausting to sit through.

I think it should be a system similar to that of the NFL.

The coaches should be allowed two challenges per game to be used at their discretion. If they wish to use both of them on offsides decisions or questionable fouls, that is their decision.

Only two, so that if a situation does arise that can change the course of a game, the officials can go back and review the play to make sure the right call was made.

It is a very fair proposition, and it will in turn give both teams a fair chance at the best call.

No more infamous games due to botched calls. It's time to correct these flawed decisions with a video replay system.

We owe it to the sport.

So my only question is, why not?