The US’s disallowed goal? The only thing I’d add to that crazy story is another argument for introducing some degree of video reviews for critical calls in a game (goals, penalty kicks, red cards, yellow cards, diving/faking for starters). They wouldn’t need to do this 5-minute NFL style triple commercial break interruption – Just a quick video review by a 5th official to say yes/no to certain calls through the head ref’s headset – the call could be made in a few seconds. No biggie.
There are simply too many cases where a bad call (or bad calls) has a gigantic effect on a game’s outcome. And with modern technology, there’s simply no reason not to do something.
A side benefit to video reviews during a game is that they would offer players a few moments rest…A bad thing you say? Am I crazy for thinking this! Actually, I think it would take away some of the diving and acting we currently see. A big reason why players go down and stay down, especially later in the games, is to provide a quick chance for players to catch their breath. A few seconds here and there for call reviews might just help minimize those delays already happening.
I’m not saying there wouldn’t be some drawbacks to video reviews, but the benefits would outweigh the negatives. This is certainly not an original idea and no one should be holding their breath for FIFA to make changes…It’s just that each time there’s a huge controversial call in the beautiful game, it makes it look ugly…and worse yet, it arms all the haters another reason to take jabs at the game -- even though I don't care what the haters think ; )
And an unrelated side note: Media, stop attempting to use descriptive words like “mastermind” regarding Maradona’ s coaching! He’s a half crazy, former world great that has Lionel Messi on his team. Please. Mourinho, Ferguson, Hitzfeld, Van Gaal...those guys are masterminds. Diego, no.
Ha, ha, ha! "Diego, no." Agreed! Strutting around the touchline looking like he's thinking about a steak sandwich or whether he's looking good on TV.
ReplyDeleteas a witness to the botched use of instant replay on a particular "phantom touchdown" at Ford Field in the 2005 NFL final, (aka - Superbowl XL), I say don't even open that basket of worm! The fact is referee's don't like to overturn calls. Only 15% of calls in the NFL are ever overturned. Letting an additional "official" make a video review is a false sense of security that justice will prevail.
ReplyDeleteI think video replay would kill the flow. There's a reason why soccer is such a great sport to watch and that's largely due to the simplicity of it and the continuous feel of the play. There is no real solution other than to hire good people, train them and pay them enough money to be excellent at their jobs. Maybe an additional ref behind the goal to watch the box exclusively? Inside the six is essentially a blind spot when it gets crowded, and it's the most crucial area of play.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm saying is the flow can already be killed when players try to draw fouls, dive, act, etc. It’s accepted as part of the game and it’s the ugliest part. How many times do we see refs getting fooled into penalizing someone because of this...a player gets grazed on the shoulder and suddenly he’s covering his face in agony…We’ve seen it a million times.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s different about soccer from any other sport is that one blown call can change the game significantly more than most other sports. A bad call in (American) football means a team might not get a first down, or they get pushed back a few yards, big deal. In basketball, a player can foul out but is replaced with someone else…In soccer, goals are harder to come by and a player sent off will have a huge impact…
Again, I realize this will never happen, but things like Thierry Henry’s handball, Rivaldo’s 2002 dive and on and on, don’t need to happen.
Interesting idea Erik. (Matt again)
ReplyDeleteI don't think flow would be interrupted too much with instant replay. Especially if you added time at the end of the half, ie stoppage time.
Generally I don't have much complaint with the overall officiating in this cup. I think its been pretty solid considering some of the officials' lack of experience in international competition.
Hey Matt,
ReplyDeleteI agree, for the most part the officiating in soccer does just fine. There will always be bad calls in sports; that cannot be eliminated. And I'm not in favor of some scenario where there are call reviews all the time...I'm just interested in eliminating these crazy calls that can leave an entire country in shambles (or me, when my man Klose gets sent off ; )
Most other sports have adapted in some form of review, the old geezers at FIFA should do the same.
If video review was enabled, would Jozy Altidore's flop have negated Donovan's free kick? How about automatic red card for flopping with video review. Now that would be something! Keïta and Altidore would both be out.
ReplyDeleteNo easy answer.
Indeed, no. No easy answer...but at the very least, things like Kieta drawing the red against Kaka with that pathetic hands-covering-face-when-he-was-hit-on-the-chest move yesterday would be gone...An official with video footage option have given the main ref the word and Kieta would have seen yellow, not Kaka.
ReplyDeleteI know this whole argument is a little pointless, but seeing that business yesterday with Ivory Coast/Brazil is just another reminder how bad things can get. And it's mostly these big games where you see more of this nonsense, where everything's on the line. A typical regular season game will go off without the big controversies.
I think the trouble with replay in soccer is that often the fouls are really subjective. I'm not aware that replay is used to overturn the more subjective calls in other sports. In the NFL, for example, they use it to see if someone went over the goal line. In the NBA to see if someone got a shot off in time. They don't use it to see if there really was a holding penalty or a foul on a drive to through the lane. I'm just not sure that they could have used it in the case of the US game.
ReplyDelete