The World Cup - the world's biggest sporting tournament (yes, it is bigger than the Olympic Games) has again been spoilt by some very poor refereeing decisions. Unnecessary or mistaken bookings cause problems to teams and heartache for the players concerned but the worst blunder was the disallowing of a goal scored by England in their defeat by Germany. The ball was well over the line and the match officials simply did not see it, whilst everybody else did. Referees will continue making these blunders until they are given proper help by FIFA in making the big decisions.
I fail to understand why:
- the World's most popular game has only two referees assistants on the touchlines but not two more watching the goal line as well.
- the referee can consult the two referees assistants but cannot consult the fourth official, a qualified referee.
- the fourth official cannot view the video and then if necessary advise the match referee to stop the game and review what happened.
- There is opposition to goal-line technology, my least favoured option but still an acceptable one, if it works.
Tennis, for example, not only has has the Hawke-Eye line technology but it has an umpire, a referee, and umpteen line judges. Here are just three good reasons why football has been technologically left behind and why referees need help in getting the big decisions right:
GOAL!!! - NO
27th June 2010
World Cup in South Africa
England 1 Germany 4
England equalised through a 'goal' by Frank Lampard but it was unfairly disallowed because the referee was not sure the ball went over the line!
GOAL!!! - NO
4th January 2005
English Premier League
Manchester United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Pedro Mendes scored the 'winning goal' for Tottenham in the last minute of normal match time but the referee unfairly disallowed it because he could not be sure the ball went over the line!
GOAL ??? - YES!!
1986 World Cup in Mexico.
England conceded an equalising goal by a cheating Maradona who handled the ball into the goal.
The referee did not disallow the 'goal' and Argentina continue to laud Maradona for what he did!
It's not good enough, FIFA!