Cav's Place

With Euro 2008 under way, the issue of modern technological aids for referees comes once again into focus. I for one can’t possibly understand why are they so determined to stick to old rules that were written with a different purpose in mind, saying that such things would make the referee no longer have the last say when it comes to judging match events…

One moment from the matches played so far comes clearly to mind, namely when Netherlands scored the first goal against Italy from a clear offside position and an Italian player went to the referee pointing to one of the screens the replays were on and telling him to take a look for himself, but he refused because he’s not allowed to make a decision based on such images.
Another such moment would be a replay that apparently showed that a penalty kick should have been awarded to a team when it wasn’t. I didn’t notice the moment so I don’t even remember what match it was from, one of the first ones anyway, but the news I read was that UEFA was trying to determine how come that replay was shown on the stadium’s screens, because a committee of referees decides what is shown on those screens and their duty is not to allow any images that could enrage the fans. Which reminds me of how replays were no longer shown at all on the screens at World Cup 2002 (which had the worst refereeing out of all final tournaments I ever watched, be they World Cups or European Championships) for the same reason.
Does anybody else think that’s absolutely idiotic? Instead of allowing the referee to make the correct decision after watching the replay when something questionable has taken place, they try to wipe it under the carpet for the duration of the match, and possibly even saying that it’s human to make mistakes afterwards when everybody is attacking that referee for the mistake he (probably) wouldn’t have made if he was allowed to see what actually happened.

I’m thinking that when it comes to final tournaments and other such high-level matches played on arenas that have screens where replays can be shown, the issue is very simple: Let the referee watch anything he has any doubts about and make his decision accordingly. As for all other matches that are televised, or played on arenas where filming is possible, there could be a TV somewhere next to the field where the referee could go and watch relevant replays. It certainly wouldn’t change the fact that the referee has the last say about match events, it would only mean that such a call would be made while being fully aware of what happened, without letting theatricals, placement or speed influence the decision. And there also would be no more debates about whether a wrong call was a genuine mistake or not, since you can no longer make such mistakes after seeing exactly what happened… Which might actually be the real issue…
(If memory serves, World Cup 2006 actually featured a fifth official whose duty was to watch replays on a small TV placed next to the field and correct any mistakes. When I heard that I thought they had finally wisened up, but it was proven to be just a waste because apparently all the fifth official could do was correct the call when there was a question of whether or not a goal was scored, as in whether or not the ball crossed the line. I don’t think there was any such situation during the entire tournament, so this fifth official was completely useless, being forced to allow all other mistakes without intervening.)
This would also solve the problem of players protesting. Besides giving the referee the right to watch any replays he deems necessary to make a correct decision when in doubt, they could make it like it’s in tennis now. Each team should have the right to two or three challenges per half during regular playing time and one per half during extra-time where applicable. The number of challenges left would only decrease if the replay would prove the players wrong. Only the team captain should normally be able to challenge, though the coach (or highest ranking official left on the bench, in case the coach has been sent off or is suspended) could challenge instead, by approaching the fourth official, if the captain is unable to do so at the time, for example due to being treated for an injury. Perhaps challenges should still be able to be made after a team has none left, in case a very important decision is questionable at such a time, but if the replay proves the call to have been correct then the team captain would automatically get yellow carded. And I said this would solve the problem of protests because if players would be given this right then any form of protest except a challenge should result in an automatic yellow card for any participating player, no questions asked.

The one complaint I usually hear when I suggest this is that it’d make the matches too fragmented and decrease playing time, or at least increase the total time since there would be more added time to compensate. Yes, it would make them somewhat more fragmented and increase the total time, but isn’t that a small price to pay for fairness? Besides, it would give the players a chance to rest for a little longer during a match, making them able to play well for a longer amount of time and therefore making it more interesting for the fans.