Time for FIFA to add more referees

FIFA, representing the world game and arguably the biggest and most well known organisation in the world, has shown third-rate interpretation and understanding of the rules, and the number of officials and technology is not sufficient in the modern game to keep up.

Soccer players these days are big, strong and fast. Officials are older and slower and technology in the game is non-existent, oh, except for the scoreboard and the fourth official’s board.

First thing first, FIFA rules need to be the enforced the same everywhere around the world and not interpreted different depending on the players or the league. Comply with the rules or don’t be a part of the organisation, simple as that.

Referees and players don’t know what to expect anymore and while this is the case the game cannot be played at its highest level because players are scared to commit a foul and referees are making blatantly bad decisions.

If that is ever sorted out the game requires more referees and goal-line technology. England did go on to lose 4-1, but had they been given the goal where the ball clearly crossed the line to make it 2-2, the whole complexion of the game would have changed and this was simply because from a quick transference of play none of the officials could keep up to make a call, so a goal was not given and Germany made the great escape.

Goal technology is a must, if not in domestic leagues, at the very least at international level to avoid fiascos like this. This is supported by former Premiership referee Jeff Winter, who believes that referees would welcome the introduction of technology: “I think that all referees would welcome the introduction of goal-line technology. This is a subject of fact not opinion and the correct decision should be able to be dealt with correctly.”

What works in Ice Hockey is when the puck goes in the net alarms ring. This would be something FIFA could look into.

It’s not the referees fault he missed the goal, he simply didn’t see it because the flow of game changed to quickly for him to be in position.

Seeing as the game is played at such a fast pace now, more officials are needed. I propose two on field officials at all times. On top of the two on field referees we have four assistant referees, each controls the sideline of their half meaning we get more handball calls in the penalty area and more eyes on the field to correct bad calls, such as Kaka’s red card against Ivory Coast.

If there was six officials with their eyes on the field, it is highly likely at least one official could have seen it and said he flopped, Kaka did not touch him. That means the fourth official now becomes the seventh official. This brings about an NFL style referee crew with eyes on every part of the ground, and they have technology as well because human error does exist.

It is considered the world game, but it is not handled in a world class manner, Sepp Blatter has to look at some changes to get the game under control before it becomes a pain to watch.