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Does football need a post-match referral system?

Does football need to bring in a post-match referral system for blatant referee errors? AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Roar Pro
24th February, 2015
13

What in the late 70s and early 80s was seen as a good challenge for the ball is nowadays deemed as a reckless and rash challenge.

There is no denying that football, like other sports, has evolved over the years. Pulling up dangerous tackles, post-match reviews of red cards and the latest review of goal-line technology are but a few changes made.

They seem so little and so late in this era of high technology. With time, it is very important for a particular sport to evolve. It is highly recommended and expected for it to embrace change. Like other sports all around the world have accepted the use of technology, it is time for football to do the same. After all, football is no exception, correct?

I am in no way against removing the human judgement effect that the game has. Nor am I in favour of frequent stoppages in the flow of the game. Hence, I believe in better and a more comprehensive post-match referral system.

With the way referees are assessing each game today, it seems that even a hard but fair challenge for the ball will result in a card for so called malicious intent.

Football is a fast-paced game which is most enjoyed when it is played end-to-end and non-stop. The referees have to play more advantages and let minor tackles go so as to try and let the game flow. The games in the recent past have not been smooth with whistles being blown quite often resulting in a break in momentum that is unappreciated by both players and fans. Other sports like cricket and tennis have a camera referral system, does football need one too?

If we take this season into consideration, various Chelsea fans would say that they have been on the wrong end of decisions more than six or seven times. The recent high profile clash that had loads relying on it, between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC, had more than four cases where the referee seemed to have made wrong decisions.

In fact, the Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, who has been very disgusted with refereeing decisions against his team throughout this season, said: “If the referee can’t see a penalty three metres in front of him, an official in front of a screen can’t miss it. If we want to protect the integrity of the referee and believe that the mistake is the consequence of misinterpretation or a bad position, I think technology can help”.

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On many occasions, teams are allowed to contest the decision of the referee after the game to try and reduce the punishment given to the player who was reprimanded. Should there be a post-match referral system in place for referees who make blatant errors as well? The threat of post-match detailed review will go a long way towards increasing honesty.

Comment if you believe that like red cards, yellow cards should also be contested in a post-match review. Many fans would like if this started purely for Premier League Fantasy reasons!

Today’s referees seem to be shielded from the media. They do not need to publicly explain their decisions. Maybe, the referees should be made part of the post-match press conference too?

There have been a lot of errors made by referees that in the short term, affect results, and in the long term, the entire season. All I am questioning is the use of technology which has so graciously been accepted by other world renowned sports.

It is high time that the large football bodies of the world introduce a referral system with the help of technology, just like they happily embraced goal-line technology.

Another use of post-match reviews is to reprimand players who blatantly dive in order to win a cheeky penalty or a free kick in a dangerous area. Then with use of the post-match referral system, action can be taken against the player and in the long run it will surely force players to reduce simulation.

The introduction will have many supporters, as well as detractors, what do you think?

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