The debate about the need for video replays in soccer will not go away. The governing bodies wish it would, but with every offside goal scored, every incorrect call on the goal line and every dive that wins a penalty, the clamor grows stronger.Video Replays can currently be used to issue charges against players for misconduct but only once a match has finished. It is a debate that divides opinion, but Fifa is against its use during games. Here are five of the arguments that fuel the debate.
1. Would video replays undermine the referee's position?
For years the game has been built around respect for the referee and a general understanding that his decision is final. Should replays come in, this would no longer be the case. A referee could make a call, the decision could go to a video replay and he could be proved wrong. If this happens even once or twice in a match, there is a significant chance that respect among the players for the referee would decrease, leading to other problems such as dissent towards the
official. Others argue that referees are undermined anyway when they make bad calls. Players often know if a decision is the wrong one as they can have a better view than the referee, or are involved in the incident in question. They don't need the aid of a replay.Just witness Pedro Mendes' perfectly good "goal" for Tottenham against Manchester United in 2005 that was deemed not to have crossed the line by the officials. The incident caused much on-pitch debate. Respect for the referee can be lost in many ways, and some argue that video replays would not increase this.
2. Would replays hold up a match?
Traditionalists believe that referring to video technology would disrupt the flow of a match and spoil it as a spectacle. No one wants to see a game based on fluidity constantly interrupted, they say. But matches get held up anyway because contentious decisions often lead to on-pitch confrontations, meaning the referee has to take further action to punish any dissent or violent conduct which could ensue. It is also the case that replays are used in cricket, tennis and rugby, which remain popular and engaging sports. In fact, anticipation of the replay often adds to the drama.
3. Would video replays damage soccer's character and make it too robotic?
Soccer is played and officiated by human beings and they all have their frailties. Many enjoy the fact the sport is subject to the unpredictability of human nature. It is played by humans, so it should be officiated by them. Soccer has never relied on technology but always been a great spectacle. Why change now? Others disagree. There would still be officials and 22 players, all the drama, passion and skill would remain, just with a few minutes extra in matches to ensure that the correct decisions are made. Matches would last longer, giving fans more value for their money!
4. Is the amount of money now in soccer a good enough reason for replays to come in?
More money than ever rests on a referee’s decision, but it is not soccer’s fault there are so many millions involved. Rather, it is the people in the sport who create this environment. In a climate where money talks, why allow it to have an even louder say on the state of the game? If people want to invest such vast amounts, they must face the consequences. Soccer shouldn’t bend even further towards the moneymen.
Fact: there has never been more money in soccer. Clubs are being bought for millions, many players are earning over US$150,000 a week, and fans are paying more than ever to watch their favorite teams. Millions rest on these decisions and with so many cameras dotted around the pitch, high profile gaffes de-value the product. With so much riding on the outcome of matches, fans, players, managers and owners deserve to see the correct decisions made.
5. Incorrect decisions make for fascinating debate among fans and the media. Would a major attraction of the game be removed if replays were introduced?
If there is one thing that fans love as much as soccer, it's talking about it afterwards. Much post-match discussion among friends is about a referee's decisions. It makes for lively debate, while the media rely on contentious decisions to fill column inches. Where would radio phone-ins and Internet forums be if, in theory, all decisions were called correctly in a match? Do people want talking points or the right decisions? Others argue that in this multifaceted game that so many people love, we shouldn't have to rely on the inadequacies of the referee for our post match chat. There are plenty of other issues to discuss in the sport.
No End in Sight
The debate will continue to rage. The beauty of the sport is that even after witnessing a video replay, people will still disagree. And if Fifa was to alter its stance, where does it draw the line? Replays for the goal line? Penalties? Offsides?
Fouls? Throw ins? Goal kicks? Corners? Fifa president Sepp Blatter has
said the body is open to video technology on the goal line in the future but continues to resist calls for its use in other areas of the pitch. This one looks like it will be rumbling on for seasons to come.
