Does Technology Have a Place in Football?

[dandannieldanok]

Could the overall standard of refereeing fall if technology was introduced? It might give referees a safety net that could lead to complacency...

Football will be in dire straits if refereeing standards drop even lower.

[davieG]

Could the overall standard of refereeing fall if technology was introduced? It might give referees a safety net that could lead to complacency...

I think it should only be used as a last resort and the focus should instead be on improving the quality of referees. Don't know how, maybe through greater pay/benefits combined with improved training methods.

But if you introduce technology BEFORE improving the quality of refereeing then you'll just create a whole other set of problems.

Well the first thing they could do is make more use of the 4th official, all we seem to be paying him for is to be the timekeeper, subs monitor and control the managers all of which used to be done by the ref.

Also why not allow/insist on the ref consulting all officials in such an incident, it's not inconceivable that the other linesman could see what is happening.

[Edmund]

If that had happened down the Walkers at 0-0 and we went on to lose 1-0 then I think you'd see things a lot more clearly, you certainly wouldn't be saying "they are only human". Because it happened to Warnock people seem to be clouded from the fact that this was a horrendous mistake that shouldn't go unpunished. If the "perfectly placed" referee and linesman didn't see the ball hit the back of the goal then you have to worry. I don't see how you can't put all the blame on the officials, what were they both doing if they weren't watching the ball clearly go in the net? And if they were watching, how on earth did they not see it go in the net? Technology would solve it but I'd rather not personally, I'd rather see referees and linesman simply watch more closely in clear instances like this.

You make some fair points Dan and im sure we all want referees to do a perfect job but unfortunately referees will make mistakes from time to time. Thats life.

If it happened down at the Walkers I would be just as pissed of as Warnock and I can't see why the situation or my views would alter apart from the fact it happened to the club I support.

So when these mistakes occur why not just have something to clarify the situation. Like someone else said it takes 5-10 seconds to look at monitor which is roughly the same time the ball takes to go back in play. In the Crystal Palace game a simple sensor on the line like they have in tennis would have done the job. It simply sends a bleep to the referee to clarify that the ball has gone over. It doesn't add any intervals to the game.

I totally agree that the referee and linesman should have seen it but technology would have put an end to this rawkus. It works well in Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Athletics the list goes on but why not football? Things evolve so why not football.

Well the first thing they could do is make more use of the 4th official, all we seem to be paying him for is to be the timekeeper, subs monitor and control the managers all of which used to be done by the ref.

Totally agree.

[Jimmy]

You make some fair points Dan and im sure we all want referees to do a perfect job but unfortunately referees will make mistakes from time to time. Thats life.

If it happened down at the Walkers I would be just as pissed of as Warnock and I can't see why the situation or my views would alter apart from the fact it happened to the club I support.

So when these mistakes occur why not just have something to clarify the situation. Like someone else said it takes 5-10 seconds to look at monitor which is roughly the same time the ball takes to go back in play. In the Crystal Palace game a simple sensor on the line like they have in tennis would have done the job. It simply sends a bleep to the referee to clarify that the ball has gone over. It doesn't add any intervals to the game.

I totally agree that the referee and linesman should have seen it but technology would have put an end to this rawkus. It works well in Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Athletics the list goes on but why not football? Things evolve so why not football.

Totally agree.

because FIFA, more specifically Sepp Blatter don't want it and constantly find things to delay it, once that England hating old fart is voted out as president of FIFA things may progress a lot quicker

[Floating Fox]

Change is not good.

[deepbluedevil]

Neither

Sadly i'm one of the naive few who is happy to accept human error (unless it hurts us).

[stez]

So when these mistakes occur why not just have something to clarify the situation. Like someone else said it takes 5-10 seconds to look at monitor which is roughly the same time the ball takes to go back in play. In the Crystal Palace game a simple sensor on the line like they have in tennis would have done the job. It simply sends a bleep to the referee to clarify that the ball has gone over. It doesn't add any intervals to the game.

I totally agree that the referee and linesman should have seen it but technology would have put an end to this rawkus. It works well in Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Athletics the list goes on but why not football? Things evolve so why not football.

Totally agree.

the games you mention are less free flowing than football, like i said earlier, what if a ball has been cleared off the line, the ball then goes to the winger who makes a quick counter attack. at what point do you stop him and say "we just need to check if the ball crossed the line"

*5 - 10 seconds later* (more if its like the 1966 world cup final, maybe 40 - 50 years later)

"ah sorry son, it didn't cross the line, carry on with your attack, oh their defence is back, you've lost momentum, through no fault of your own, so you've missed out on a legitimate goal scoring opportunity. hard luck fella"

[Edmund]

the games you mention are less free flowing than football, like i said earlier, what if a ball has been cleared off the line, the ball then goes to the winger who makes a quick counter attack. at what point do you stop him and say "we just need to check if the ball crossed the line"

*5 - 10 seconds later* (more if its like the 1966 world cup final, maybe 40 - 50 years later)

"ah sorry son, it didn't cross the line, carry on with your attack, oh their defence is back, you've lost momentum, through no fault of your own, so you've missed out on a legitimate goal scoring opportunity. hard luck fella"

My first post explains all.

Yes but only in moderation.

Like what has been said already a sensor over the goal line to say that the ball has crossed over would have no impact on the game whatsoever.

Video replays on the other hand could ruin football if used at all times. It should only be brought out for drastic decisions like goals going in which aren't allowed

I wouldn't like to see it used on offsides and penalty decisions as that would just slow the game down and with the poor discipline that footballers possess there would be uproar with every decision and people would be protesting for a replay at every opportunity, especially with the amount of money involved in todays game.

[stez]

My first post explains all.

that'll learn me to read posts that i can't be bothered with

[Edmund]

that'll learn me to read posts that i can't be bothered with

Well it semi answers your question but tbh I can't even tell if your being sarcastic

Im sure there are many other loopholes in having technology and would be the next talking point if it ever gets introduced.

[Finnegan]

It's going to happen eventually. Fact.

[BoneDog]

Video replays and goal-line technology should be used nowadays cos too many crackhead decisions get made by useless (or bribed ) officials.

This technology would not slow the game down at all because a decision only takes a few (maybe 30) seconds to make once you see the video evidence. Far more time is wasted by players surrounding refs/linesman and bitching for 2 minutes.

I doubt this technology will be used though for reasons I won't talk about

[Ultra]

Weren't they supposed to be trialling even more officials at some point? I.e. extra linesmen especially for the goal line

UEFA are experimenting with this in Europa League games this season.

[StanSP]

Who says that it has to be technology? I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but there was some research into having two extra officials standing next to the goal on the goal-line throughout the match incase any of these kind of incidents occur.

[Ultra]

I think managers should be able to send up to three incidents a game for "review" (similar to the system used in the NFL). Any more and the disruption to the game would turn it into a farce.

But fans need to be reassured of the integrity of the game. Too many matches are being decided by the actions of incompetent match officials rather than the performances of the respective teams.

With the amount of money we're being asked to fork out in order to watch those matches, that situation cannot stand for much longer.

Sooner or later, a club will challenge poor refereeing decisions in court. That will force FIFA and the relevant FAs to act.

[Smudge]

No and No.

Just let the game flow please

Not your money though is it? Leicester get the playoffs and lose a game because some official genuinely makes a mistake, how do you compensate the millions that are lost over the next several seasons? As a fan you move on, perhaps; shrug your shoulders but as an investor it's unjust and tragic.

[ozleicester]

Im not sure if a study has been done to count the number of decisions a ref makes (or doesnt make) in a single game, to be honest im not even sure if it could be counted?

you will have to have an electronic view of every player on the field, at every moment of the game if you are going to use electronics..and that is just not possible...

The human error (and square up) technology we have now is the most effective way of reffing a game.

Just as players do, refs will make mistakes, its part of life.

hmm maybe thats it...

damn Gen Y people expecting everything to be fair and even all the time

Life isnt a merry go round, its a rollercoaster...you gotta have the crashing lows, to enjoy the exhilerating highs.

[Fox92]

Most probably no for both. It is a human error and a human game so no way although it could save someones season via either promotion or relegation.

[Monk]

For me the 2 ideas are very different. When a referee makes a call on a foul or an off side it is effectively a subjective decision and we should use the human judgement of referees as it is, without any need for video replays. If we were to introduce replays it would slow the game down and as a game of football does not travel at the same pace of a cricket match that would be unacceptable.

Goal line technology on the other hand is a different kettle of fish - yes it is down to the referee to make a judgment call but in most controversial cases the ref has not been in a position to make an informed decision. There is technology out there which would provide a near instant answer to the referee by placing an electronic chip in the ball and a sensor on the goal post. The technology already exists in marathon timer chips. This would clear up a big grey area of refereeing.

[AyewJoking]

What is fifa scared of?

Get the technology in. If it slows the game down too much (which I doubt it will) then they can always abandon it.

You cant have it both ways, ie a massive money making business but oh wait, we still have debate and human error so it is still the peoples game.

[Sly]

Simply, just give the Fourth official access to Sky TV and on the rare occassion stuff like this happens let him make the call.

You could give teams like three "Fourth Offical calls" a season or maybe one a match or something like that, something like they do in Tennis.

It's not exactly going to slow the game down anymore than the 5 minutes the players will spend arguing with the ref/lines men.

[Sly]

You can't fit a sensor in the goal as such as every time someone cross the line it'll go off. Unless your fitting something inside the ball ..... then this opens up a whole can of worms for people cheating and using stuff to set the sensors off!!

[Edmund]

You can't fit a sensor in the goal as such as every time someone cross the line it'll go off. Unless your fitting something inside the ball ..... then this opens up a whole can of worms for people cheating and using stuff to set the sensors off!!

Not sure how the whole technology works but im sure they could. Surely it's the same principle as in tennis with a tennis player stepping over the line yet they still decipher wether the ball is in/out.

There would also need to be technology for when the ball goes in the back of the net but doesn't hit the ground until it's in as this will bypass the goal line sensor.

[Monk]

Can we make it like the old NHL and have a flashing red siren on top of the goal which goes off when the ball goes in.

[The Doctor]

Can we make it like the old NHL and have a flashing red siren on top of the goal which goes off when the ball goes in.

i hope you're being sarcastic. that would be the most annoying thing since the invention of sliced bread giving people a saying to use every time something remotely new arrives.