Football fans around the globe should be demanding an answer. England, denied a clear Frank Lampard goal, in turn goes crashing out of the World Cup. Video technology or otherwise, FIFA head honcho Sepp Blatter owes the fans answers.
His governing body deliberates endlessly about the use of video technology.
We have seen nothing but rejection yet.
Firstly, the linesman and yes, the referee, should have spotted Lampard’s shot as a goal.
The linesman was, surprisingly, in position.
He was watching the offside call but should have seen the ball had clearly crossed the line.
For Lampard’s shot, more of a lob than a hammering volley, to hit the bar, cross the line and then hit the bar again at the angle it did, every official on the pitch should have known it went over.
Even Fabio Capello, in his glasses and at 64 years of age, saw it was a goal, as much as he pleaded it was.
In fact Sepp, you probably saw it from the stands and at 74 years of age.
The answer to the question is up for debate.
Whether it’s goal line technology or overall video.
Or even two officials – if they need more than one – on the goal line at each end.
It’s a discussion that must be had.
The World Cup, according to Blatter and football fans, is the world’s biggest sporting event.
No, not with errors such as the one we saw in the knockout stages of a major tournament, one that is worked for and held every four years.
Unacceptable.
Don’t get started on it was a 4-1 win argument.
A football game at 2-2 at the break is different to 2-1 after 65 minutes – particularly if you have been the lesser team in the opening period.
The result is not the point of this discussion and Blatter shouldn’t dismiss it as the reason.
There is no better way to have the stuffing knocked out of you than a clear goal disallowed.
While many people love football, many more would if errors like this one didn’t occur.
Here’s one of the reasons for not having video technology from the FIFA website: “The simplicity and universality of the game of association football is one of the reasons for its success. Men, women, children, amateurs and professionals all play the same game all over the world.”
Oh, the heart-warming grassroots argument combined with the ‘financial aspect’.
Is it too much to ask for at a World Cup, where the men of FIFA make billions of dollars?
The people who don’t love football are laughing at you Sepp.
The people who do love football want answers.
Art Sapphire
Guest
I got $3.40 for the draw before kick off. Not too shabby.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
Not sure about those in particular.. But I know SBS can give it to you in less than a minute where it measures the distance between the players etc.
dasilva
Guest
"German citizenship is based primarily on the principle of Jus sanguinis. In other words one usually acquires German citizenship if a parent is a German citizen, irrespective of place of birth." Therefor Ozil would have required naturalisations and hence documents proving he is a citizen Sorry for getting into politics here but that's a horrendous citizen law (I wrote an entire article about how FIFA should prevent players from playing for the nationality of their parents. So it's shocking to find out that a countries citizenship is determine on parenthood not where you were born) No wonder why there's issues of race relations with the Turkish community in Germany. If you are not considered a citizen despite being born here, that doesn't exactly give people incentive to intergrate, feel patriotic etc.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
Hiddink says he is entitled to play for Germany - no argument there. Obviously, he was born there. But he says he is at the World Cup under a "false" passport - where would he come up with something like that? Hiddink is well-respected by football people, surely he'd know anything he says holds some weight. He's a star - player of the tournament thus far? Or D. Villa pipping him?
dasilva
Guest
I'm just wondering, is that computer generated image quick to do? I don't know much about that technology If they can accurately determine whether a player is offside quickly. So after a goal is scored. The computer will quickly determine whether it's offside and then the goal will automatically be rescinded. It doesn't bother me too much whether these goals are allowed or not as it was very marginal. However, if we can prevent even marginal mistakes with no draw backs. Why not
Art Sapphire
Guest
Ozil was born in the German city of Gelsenkirchen. If that does not qualify you to play for Germany then I don't what does. I don't think the Germans have anything to worry about. FYI - Germany and Turkey are in the same qualifying group for Euro 2012. As the new Turkish manager, Guus is suffering from player envy. I'd hate to be in Ozil's shoes if he scores against Turkey in Istanbul.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
That's true. Are Hiddink's comments sour grapes or could there be more to it? Blatter's grass roots argument is crap: referees, linesmen, the grounds etc etc
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
I remembered a couple of moments from AFL GFs in recent years Michael. The Tom Hawkins "goal" that from memory, either clearly missed or hit the post (or both) last year. The Anthony Rocca 'over the post' behind against Brisbane. Both in close games..
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Had no knowledge with of that, but I honestly don't have a problem with Ozil playing for Germany (where he was born). Seems more a German immigration issue than a football one, their certainly no Qatar when it comes to fake nationals. If it was Cacau then perhaps more of an issue, but that does remind me how we missed out on Hiddink and Turkey got him, I guess he's on more than 6m???? My comment was in regards to Blatters BS about how it has to be the same at all levels. In junior football I remember no linesman and dads taking turns reffing each half, So that's why I brought up the players dads having a go. Absurd of course for that to happen at the World Cup but so is Blatter for using "humanity" as an excuse for not doing his job.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
What was draw after 90 minutes paying Art?
Art Sapphire
Guest
Makes the game what it is, Dejan. Should I send the an invoice to the linesman for the $10 I lost on the result :)
Michael C
Guest
ah yes - - but, that's assuming we don't place a single 'goal' judge beside each goal mouth to ensure there's no possible complaint about any goalline disputes in the biggest sporting event in the world......... btw - 1 goal can ALWAYS decide a game, that one goal only may be scored in an entire game is more the issue - - - which is why, it SHOULD be respectedly appriately via rules/officials/technology to actually get it right. .....but, for me, I can't believe modern soccer is still only employing a single central referee, and that that single central referee has a watch and controls the 'stoppage' (injury) time, so, it's really no surprise that adjudication of goals that SHOULD be so simple is buried in some historical time capsule.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I can live with decisions like the Villa goal. I don't want to be wating around for the 4th or 5th official to be looking at super slo mo. what I do want too see is someone watching the game taking advantage of all the extra set of eyes TV give you (i.e. the Camera's) and pulling up obvious big mistakes. The game would just play like normal but if something was obviously worng the ref could make a TV signal and reverse the decision. So the goal would be awarded and then 15 seconds later over ruled. Would need a fifa mandate to cut out complaining by players though or them trying to get the video ref to look at something.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
AndyRoo - hard to find up there. Are you refereeing to this: http://arsenalaction.com/2010/06/28/guss-hiddink-the-german-passport-for-mesut-ozil-is-false/ If that's true.. does anyone know the consequences?
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Someone needs to ask Blatter why in the Aus Germany game Ozil's dad wasn't in charge for the first half and Cahill's dad for the second. And which player in the team has Pim for a dad?
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
DId you see the linesman's view? He couldn't even see Villa.. I'm happy for them to be allowed, but would it have been if the linesman was in a better position? Eh, hypotheticals.
Art Sapphire
Guest
I've seen the replay quite a few times Dejan and so have many others. It was close. The match reports that I have read don't dispute the goal. If it was clearly offside then it Quieroz would have complained about it. Ricardo Carvalho after the game - "What went wrong? The goal was offside a little bit!" Little bit offside goals are given and little bit onside goals are disallowed because they are close. I even put some money on a draw for this game as I thought the Portuguese would hold out for 90 minutes. So if someone had a right to dispute the decision it was me. I just saw the clip - 0.22m - Carvalho was right - it was a little bit :) He should be a linesman when he retires.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
Closer than I thought. Here's why it wasn't called: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQQVuQD3120
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
It wasn't that close Art. There's three Portuguese defenders appealing for offside - couldn't protest because replays have been banned at the grounds! I don't mind benefit of the doubt to the striker, but we've seen closer called - if it was benefit of the doubt all tournament, we probably would've seen more goals! Not a Tevez error, no way!
Art Sapphire
Guest
Dejan - It was close and when that is the case you should give the benefit to the attacking team. The line was static apart from Villa's darting run as he was expecting Xavi to flick the ball to him so quickly. I just had a look at a still shot and there are only inches in it. Good goal. This is not an error like the one in the Mexico game.