Goal Line Technology
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Earlier today, I was working on this post on my mobile phone, had it finished and when I clicked to post, the 3G signal disappeared and somehow the mobile gods thought it'd be funny to make all my futbol prose disappear. Anyhow, I will try my best to cover everything I had to say. Here we go.
Today we witnessed two epic matches between four well qualified teams. England faced Germany and the Argentinians suited up in clashing blues against the Mexicans. The games were both awesome, there is no denying that, but what tainted them, for me at least, was the two horrible calls made by the referees in both games in regards to goals.
In the England game, Frank Lampard scores a sweet goal that bounces off the crossbar and into the goal. It is clearly two feet or so behind the line, but the referee disallows the goal. This would've tied the game at 2-2 and it would've been, arguably, a different game. Sure the Germans played a better overall game, but there's no denying the psychological effect of such a call on a struggling England side. What ever happened to the striker getting the advantage in those situations? That's game one.
Game two. Early in the Mexico/Argentina game Mexico played with a lot of confidence and had two great shots on goal that easily could've gone in and would've left the Maradona-faithful seeking a new deity. However, Messi had other plans and played the ball into Tevez who heads it in, but is CLEARLY offside. The referee lets the goal stand and the Mexican players swarm the linesman in fury. After about a minute or so, the referee sends them back to the pitch and the goal stands. My question is, if it was clearly a goal, why did the referee run over to the linesman after it had already been called a goal? This was the paradigm shift in the game as it broke the Mexicans' momentum and it was all downhill from that moment forth.
Both calls will undoubtedly lead to the resurgence of the issue of goal line technology in futbol games. If you remember correctly the issue was widely discussed after Thierry Henry's handball against Ireland that sent France to South Africa and the Irish back home.
Futbol is a modern game in a modern era and it is the biggest in the world. Almost every other sport has some form of technology in place to aid officials in making the right calls during matches. Why not futbol? ESPN as well as other broadcasting stations have cameras on the goal net for crying out loud, why can't FIFA? If you think about the dynamic of a futbol match where we see 1 or 2 goals on average/game, getting a call wrong in regards to a goal is a big deal.
I brought up the question to a smart guy I know and he is against goal line technology. He says that it slows down the pace of the game and it is anti-futbol in the sense that it leaves us nothing to talk about after the game. Goal line technology makes futbol a game of absolutes with no ambiguity and room for debate. I see his point, but I disagree. Billions of dollars/pounds/Euros/Yen/Pesos are invested in futbol and aside from the monetary aspect of it, we as fans want to see a fair game. That's what goal line technology does; it makes the game fair. Now, the issue becomes, if implemented, to what extent is the technology used? My friend brought up a scenario that what if a foul is committed on the center of the pitch and everyone stops, but the referee lets the play go on and a goal is scored from that, will goal line technology review the foul and thus disallow the goal? I think goal line technology should be used only in instances like we saw today. Instances where the ball is over the line, but the referee isn't sure; instances where a player in the box is offside, or could be offside. These moments won't slow down the game in my opinion. I'm for goal line technology. Horrible calls like we saw today taint the game for me and it is a shame that FIFA, or rather, Sepp Blatter, does not favor technology in futbol. What are your thoughts on goal line technology? Are you for it? Are you against it? I'd love to hear what you think in the comments!! Thanks for reading and as always you can follow us on Twitter: @LiveBrtheFutbol
The Games continue in the a.m. !! Viva Futbol.
Will you still be in favour of Goal-line technology if the Team you DEARLY love, are in the final game of the World Cup, then scores the only goal of normal play but there is a possibility that the goal scored might be offside?!
For the "Sake" of fair play, you'd rather the referee rewind the tapes and check to see what actually happened? I think not.
Early 'Sport' has close connections to warfare. In the old days, ppl died in sports, 'Gladiators' were thrown into arenas to fight for their lives against stronger opponents and wild beasts. Fencing, jousting, polo etc, are sports that had death as an end result (in the past), therefore, the winner must win by "Any means necessary".
Nothing to do with fairness. Yet, wagers (Money) were still placed on those events.
Fairness is relative. It only ever works for one party.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/fair
well, I guess it's a good thing the team I "DEARLY love" won't be in the final of the World Cup. If that was the case, however, I would still be in favor of the goal line technology because it is bigger than me and the team I support. It is indeed about fairness and being just.
Futbol isn't early "sport" as you put it. Futbol has rules that govern it and every aspect of the game.
One of those rules states that if the whole of the ball crosses the goal line, it is indeed a goal and the team that scores such should be awarded 1 point. Goal line technology is intended to clarify situations like Lampard's goal where the referee was not sure, or did not see it cross the line and therefore wrongfully disallowed a clear goal. This has nothing to do with jousting, fencing or the like lol.
And yes for the sake of fair play I'd have the ref rewind tapes to see if a goal is indeed as such. We place so much stock in referees and linesmen to make the right call in big games, but let's face it they are human and cannot see everything. Therefore, since the technology exists that allows us to correctly call tough situations it ought to be used. Point blank. period.
Thanks for the comment.
I still go against the technology. With that, the excitement is taken away from the game. Celebrations are delayed and lose their ecstasy.
As the kick-off whistle is blown, I like the feeling of the unknown. I watch with anticipation, wondering what refereeing decisions will decide the winners of every game. These are the things that excite me about football.
With goal line technology, I no longer can talk about the'ifs', 'what' & 'Maybe' of a game. Instead, i am left to ponder on what a Fair game it is that I just watched. hmm!
If we have to use technology for the goal line, we definitely have to use it for the entire field.
What of the player who elbows another player off the ball and isn't seen by any of the referees but is caught on camera? That is a red card offence, which, may leave the opposing team in an advantageous position.
You have to understand that there are a million and one other reasons to bring the use of cameras into a football game. Once its accepted for the goal line, every manager who feels hard done by, will want other aspects of the game to be reviewed.
It's alright to be for the idea of goal line cameras but you need to understand that such decisions will not happen over night.
It will involve a team of lawyers, FIFA will need the Africans, UEFA, Asians etc. to agree to it.
Some clubs (with big bank balances) may be against it, hence, stating their own defenses in court. Its just too tedious.
Also, at what level would goal line technology be required? For instance, even the top clubs in African leagues cannot afford to implement this idea.
FIFA surely won't be buying the cameras and neither is Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu of Eyimba FC.
Where do we draw the line?
It's called goal line technology for a reason. I'm for technology that is only used in a situation where the referee or linesman is not in an adequate position to see if the ball crosses the line or if a striker in the 6yd box is offside. Granted, you can argue almost any call can affect the outcome of a game, but disallowing Frank Lampard's goal because you didn't see the ball bounce two feet behind the goal line is despicable and that's not the feeling of the "unknown" that anyone loves about the game.
You bring up valid points about what level is the technology implemented and who foots the bill amongst other things, but I'd say at the top flight it is certainly needed, so Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu of Eyimba FC need not worry about that. I'm talking about the World Cup; Champion's League finals; Euro Cup. Tournaments like that need it. The refs in the World Cup have made some seriously questionable decisions in regards to goals (I've never seen so many clear cut goals disallowed and obvious offsides called goals) and it is about time Fifa address this by implementing something that cannot be questioned.
and as far as goal line technology taking away the excitement away from the game, that is pure speculation and isn't true. If my math is correct, there have been around 117 goals scored so far in the World Cup. There have been 3 or 4 questionable calls in regards to goals scored/disallowed in the World Cup so far. That's only 3.33% of the goals that will have to be reviewed. That in no way affects the excitement of the game of futbol. Not even close.
Now, you could rebut and say that since only 3% of the goals scored have been questionable, then goal line technology is a waste of time and money. But those 3% of goals that have been wrongly called affect team's destinies and their positioning in a tournament that is structured and organized. Will England have beaten Germany if the score was allowed to stand at 2-2? Will Mexico have beaten Argentina if Tevez's offside goal didn't break their spirits? Your guess is as good as mine, but referees are there to make the RIGHT call and they generally do based on what they SEE. What about what they don't see? Do we just continue to place our hopes and aspirations on three individuals who are far from perfect and make mistakes like the rest of us?
Sport has evolved and so has technology. The two can work hand in hand and I do not believe that goal technology will damage the sport in the way that most people believe it will. Like every new rule or adjustment it will take getting used to, but once we're used to it it won't matter. It'll just be another part of the game that is intended to make things fair. The cameras can even get a whistle, yellow and red cards if it makes people happy.
Eyimba FC have won the African champions league twice already. They'd certainly say they were a top flight team, competing in a top fight competition.
Basically, what you are saying is that Fairness matters most where there is more money to be made.
You don't put into consideration, the feelings of those who support the smaller leagues. Your argument is based purely on Big game football.
I remember a poll that was conducted in England, where footie supporters were asked "Which is more important, the National side or the Club team?" The majority voted for "the club" and most of these clubs surely cannot afford goal-line technology.
Are you going to say, because their league is smaller, they don't need technology?
Everyday, everywhere around the world, some poor kid feels his club side were hard done-by because of a refereeing decision. He deserves to experience the same level of Fairness as those in "European" leagues.
If we are going to talk about money, the highest price paid to any team isn't in the EPL, CL, WC etc, its is actually paid to the winner of the Championship League, which, is one grade below the Premiership.
Goal-line technology is good for the sport but won't be FAIR on the leagues and clubs that can't afford it or aren't allowed to used it, as you think only the CL, Euro Cup & WC are the most important competitions around.
like you said, "goal-line technology is good for the sport" That's my argument.
Look at American Football for example. High school teams don't have the cameras that the NFL has. I don't hear high school kids and leagues whining about not having the cameras to review calls.
My argument is indeed based on big game football. When you have millions of people watching, there is a lot at stake. sure the poor kid who feels his club side is hard done by a refereeing decision "deserves" the technology, but the World Cup, CL and Euro Cup for instance are much bigger tournaments than others and that is the reality of it. Thus, at that level, big decisions should not be left to human beings who can't see everything.
If ESPN and other broadcast stations can afford to put cameras on the goal net, then Fifa can. I don't see you making a case for these smaller leagues to get broadcasting cameras and such, and if they can afford that and have supporters, I bet they can afford goal line technology. It isn't that expensive. It's just cameras. I can get little hidden cameras on ebay for <$50.
I play in a recreational league and the referees are absolute crap. They make worse calls than the Fifa refs have including those regarding goals. We complain about it, but once the game is over, it's over. And we don't call to the league to implement goal line technology because there isn't that much at stake at our level. We pay ~$60/season. That's my point. At the top, top flight with millions invested and millions of people watching, there should be goal line technology. It's ridiculous not to have it, and we are only having this discussion because of calls wrongly made in the top flight.
The reason the mexican players went crazy and went straight for the line judge (besides the obvious error) was due to the stadium personnel showing a replay of the play and erasing all doubt. This supported the mexican players claim of it being offsides. In response to this and not the fact that it was a clear error, FIFA is going to censor the replays shown in the stadium even more. I dont think having an extra ref by each goal in the world cup would be invasive or ruin "tradition" by including more technology or cause unnecessary stoppages in play. I think it would suit both sides of the argument.