Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli cheers after scoring the 3-2 goal, during the Italy Cup soccer match between Juventus and Inter Milan, in Turin, northern Italy, Wednesday Jan. 30, 2008. AP Photo/Massimo Pinca
FIFA uses the Confederations Cup as a warm-up for the World Cup, which is good given the problems that have already sprung up. But the off-field issues don’t concern me as much as the on-field ones do.
Egypt is furious after Brazil was awarded a penalty on the basis of a video replay that was screened around the stadium. This is ironic given that people have been crying out for the use of technology to aid referees in making decisions, only for FIFA to stick its head in the sand.
It has already nixed the idea of a microchip in the ball to confirm that it has crossed the goal.
With all of the camera angles and slow-motion replays, to completely ignore technology isn’t the way to go. The post-mortem which will follow bad decisions isn’t good for anyone, least of all the referees.
The World Cup is sport’s biggest show and only gets bigger with the passing of every four years.
Even now, 43 years after the fact, people are still debating whether or not Geoff Hurst’s shot crossed the line. Given the scrutiny that referees are going to be under, why not give them a little bit of help before the public is let loose on them?
No one can refute that the introduction of technology is necessary, the only thing worth debating is the means by which it manifests. Given the free-flowing nature of the sport, it is impossible to have a system which is going to cover every scenario.
On top of that, there are instances when the technology doesn’t help you – just ask Jarryd Hayne.
There should be no problem with technology being able to verify goals in terms of checking them for offside. There would be a problem, though, when something is called back when it shouldn’t be.
When a player is erroneously flagged for offside, nothing can be done to rectify that situation.
If technology had shown Sol Campbell’s goal against Argentina in 1998 to be fine, would it have been awarded?
When it comes to claims for a penalty, many times it’s impossible to make a clear-cut decision, even with the aid of technology. Who knows what the right solution is?
For the moment, FIFA can get away with brushing Egypt under the carpet.
But it isn’t going to be as easy in a years time when the whole world is watching and some of the big boys are cranky.
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