'TV Replays'

[digitalalba]

Just listening to last nights Phone-in, they're talking about the possibility of using technology.

 

Every time 'pundits' talk about this issue, they completely ignore the obvious, because they always bring up the argument that the game could be ruined for 'stop-start'.

 

The glaringly obvious answer to getting correct decisions isn't to give each side two opportunities to stop the game, and using technology for every decision doesn't make things worse, it makes things fair.

 

All we need is a fourth official to monitor the game using the kind of technology sky sports use, and within seconds of a bad decision being made, the fourth official can ear piece the ref or linesman to stop the game (If in-play) and correct things. Of course, if the ball goes out of play and the ref isn't sure what happened, he could wait for the fourth official to confirm his suspicions.

 

Fairer decision making should ensure that officials don't have to succumb to the big club - better and fairer for the smaller club.

[leicsmac]

Given how often the game stops and starts anyway, I see no reason to not begin including tech in more decisions.

 

The only arguments I've heard against it are the hardcore traditionalists and those who invent contrived circumstances whereby a red card should have been given at one end of the pitch but then the ref let play continue and a goal was scored at the other end.

 

Stopping play to allow tech to work for big incidents (possible goals, penalty incidents and red cards) can only be a good thing.

[yorkie1999]

All it needs is for referees to buy into the idea that technology is there to take away the pressures forced upon them by the media and managers/players and it is up to the referee to request a second opinion, so he is still in control.

[Dan]

I cannot fathom how the game being 'stop-start' (which it kind of is already) is a bigger problem than the ones it would solve. Bring it in. It's gotten out of hand.

[Guest]

Agree with all four of the above opinions.

[Footballwipe]

It's gotten totally out of hand; the referees are getting increasingly worse and it's getting beyond a joke now. There's no need to use it for major incidents and both have their merits.

 

Personally I prefer the challenge system myself. There's a danger that refs get like rugby union officials, scurrying up to replays every time something marginal happens. That would get frustrating (though on this season could we trust the referees anyway). This (maybe unfairly in many eyes) put the onus onto the players and managers to rectify what they see as an injustice, and they retain or lose their challenges accordingly.

 

I wouldn't mind the unlimited replay with referee discretion, but I wouldn't be comfortable with it being for everything. Will we need to go to replay for every contentious throw in? That would get tedious. Offsides, fouls, red cards, penalties etc bring it in and stop the silliness. The other danger with this option is that it wouldn't eradicate the surrounding refs at all. You'd get players around the ref haranguing him to go to a replay to prove their point, even if the ref is absolutely certain and right. Might also be a momentum-changing factor too. If you're on the back foot and blowing out your arse try and kick up a fuss so the ref goes to a replay on a decision to kill some momentum.

 

Both have their pros and cons, of course major decisions might go against teams if they're out of challenges, but it might alleviate excessive replays.

[Babylon]

All it needs is for referees to buy into the idea that technology is there to take away the pressures forced upon them by the media and managers/players and it is up to the referee to request a second opinion, so he is still in control.

That's fine in theory, but you end up with the issue Rugby has at times that the refs rarely actually make a decision themselves any more. Even the most glaringly obvious things go up to be checked and it can get tiresome.

 

There are numerous grumbles about rugby and technology and they've been using it for years. It brings it's own problems.

[Guest MattP]

Challenge system works for me as well.

Would stop frivolous appeals and make people look ridiculous when they deserve too moaning about decisions that are clearly correct.

[yorkie1999]

That's fine in theory, but you end up with the issue Rugby has at times that the refs rarely actually make a decision themselves any more. Even the most glaringly obvious things go up to be checked and it can get tiresome.

 

There are numerous grumbles about rugby and technology and they've been using it for years. It brings it's own problems.

The point i'm trying to make is that it will be ultimately the referee's association that have to buy into it and the only way that will happen is if they feel they are still in control of the game. 

[Rocket-Ron]

But isn't all the controversy part of the game?

something to talk about down the pub after, or work the next day etc.

[Babylon]

But isn't all the controversy part of the game?

There will still be controversy, trust me. Just a different sort.

[Guest MattP]

But isn't all the controversy part of the game?

something to talk about down the pub after, or work the next day etc.

If the sport needs controversy to survive it's shit.

These things are too important to get wrong, combine that with a clear bias to bigger sides and the need for technology is necessary.

[Finnegan]

Yep. Don't think you could do it as much as in rugby because there's less pronounced breaks in play.

But a challenge system for red cards / fouls / goals seems fine with me.

[leicsmac]

If the sport needs controversy to survive it's shit.

These things are too important to get wrong, combine that with a clear bias to bigger sides and the need for technology is necessary.

 

This.

[Rocket-Ron]

If the sport needs controversy to survive it's shit.

These things are too important to get wrong, combine that with a clear bias to bigger sides and the need for technology is necessary.

To be fair most of it is shit

sport isn't important to me! its just something I do and TRY to enjoy.

[Kitchandro]

I'm not against technology at all, but for me this discussion distracts from the real issue that referees are just not good enough. Some of the things they've got wrong recently they shouldn't need video replays for. If we have video replays, it's not to 'help' referees but more to make sure they can't screw us over, unintentionally or otherwise. I'm tired of them being excused because they don't have replays.

 

I find the idea of a challenge system stupid. It's either a right decision or a wrong one, if you're out of challenges and the referee makes a huge, match deciding cockup, do we just say 'tough, you're out of challenges'? It's irrelevant whether your previous challenges were poor, the referee needs to be getting decisions right, no matter who it benefits.

[Guest]

That's fine in theory, but you end up with the issue Rugby has at times that the refs rarely actually make a decision themselves any more. Even the most glaringly obvious things go up to be checked and it can get tiresome.

 

There are numerous grumbles about rugby and technology and they've been using it for years. It brings it's own problems.

 

I think Rugby isn't going far enough - the real referee should be in the studio watching the game on screens and relaying this information to the very fit (preferably female) ref in the middle of the park. Refs are not capable of making the decisions on the pitch in modern day football.

 

Challenge system works for me as well.

Would stop frivolous appeals and make people look ridiculous when they deserve too moaning about decisions that are clearly correct.

 

Don't like the challenge suystem at all - unless that was just for cards, penalties, goals and the like. Fair enough for those but throwing a duster onto the pitch like US Football wouldn't work for me. I just think we need to go further and put the decisions into the hands of a distant source with all the information. We shouldn't even need to stop the game for that until the video ref calls for it to be stopped. 

 

I'm not against technology at all, but for me this discussion distracts from the real issue that referees are just not good enough. Some of the things they've got wrong recently they shouldn't need video replays for. If we have video replays, it's not to 'help' referees but more to make sure they can't screw us over, unintentionally or otherwise. I'm tired of them being excused because they don't have replays.

 

I find the idea of a challenge system stupid. It's either a right decision or a wrong one, if you're out of challenges and the referee makes a huge, match deciding cockup, do we just say 'tough, you're out of challenges'? It's irrelevant whether your previous challenges were poor, the referee needs to be getting decisions right, no matter who it benefits.

 

Refs have never been good enough - it's impossible for them to be in the correct position at any time to see the action from all of the required angles. The difference in the past was that we didn't have TV which showed the game from every angle and therefore highlights how wrong the refs are. Technology has moved on, money has increased. Use the technology and get things right.

[Finnegan]

You really come out with some ****ing stupid drivel.

[Guest]

You really come out with some ****ing stupid drivel.

 

I'll take it that this time that wasn't aimed at my post. 

[Jaspa]

Refs have been around since the beginning, to lose something of them would be missing from the sport. I would love to have badass refs running around seemingly plucking perfect decisions out of their a*se  on a weekly basis but it simply isn't happening.

 

Theres a problem, we need a solution. Video refs would be a great way to rid of diving and bad calls but as we see every week, even decisions under the microscope can be debated about for weeks on end with no clear result in cases. All in all though it would help quite alot so I'm for it if its done right. That means no limited Cricket system which is stupid, errors are still around, they know they are there still and they do nowt if youre out of tickets for the umpires, Gentleman's sport

 

I'd also like to see some effort taken towards time-wasting ect. You see too many games where as soon as one team takes the advantage they take 10 seconds more for throw ins, dive on the floor more often and kick and play the ball around when they give away a free kick. Sometimes it can be funny if youre winning but all too many games and players resort to this mundane and childish shi*e.

[Kitchandro]

You really come out with some ****ing stupid drivel.

 

Yeh you always say that and after the 1000th time I still don't give a toss. If you were a reasonable bloke you'd accept my well reasoned point of view.

 

Debate like a man or pipe down.

[Finnegan]

Never argue with an idiot, he'll bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.

I really don't have the energy or inclination to "debate" with you.

[digitalalba]

But isn't all the controversy part of the game?

something to talk about down the pub after, or work the next day etc.

Just had a look at the rules, no mention of controversy 

[digitalalba]

Video refs would be a great way to rid of diving and bad calls but as we see every week, even decisions under the microscope can be debated about for weeks on end with no clear result in cases.

Incredibly, referees abide by the rules as it is their profession, and pundits give opinions based on their perception of the rules, that's why there's endless debates.

[Jaspa]

Incredibly, referees abide by the rules as it is their profession, and pundits give opinions based on their perception of the rules, that's why there's endless debates.

 

True, the game works because of the rules in the book. But there are still incidents that polarise people that each side have fair assessments of, we could be sat on the sidelines for minutes whilst someone in the black box deliberates whether he touched his toe or the ball first. There really has to be thought and refinement put into this before its introduced, it will work if its done right as we've seen with goalline tech but any incidents where it goes wrong and people will attack it.