For a long time now, people in the soccer community have been wishing for the introduction of some form of technology to help referees on the pitch avoid major refereeing mistakes that can change the course of the game being played, or simply change the final score of the game.
Lampard's legitimate goal was not awarded
Up till the ongoing World Cup tournament in South Africa, the landmark refereeing oversight has been the goal scored by the “hand of God”. Based on video and photographic evidence, Maradona, one of the best players in the game’s history had pushed the ball into the net with his left fist. The referee, who did not see the infringement, allowed the goal, which allowed Argentina to take a 1-0 lead over its opponent, England. Argentina then went on to win that quarter-finals match 2-1 and eventually won that World Cup in 1986.
FIFA, the world governing body of the game, has inexplicably resisted calls to introduce some form of technology to avert such mistakes. Suggestions include the use of video-playbacks, goal-line technology and embedded chip in the ball. Some even believe the reluctance could stem from the desire to keep soccer interesting by ensuring there is no lack of such controversies.
This world cup has had its share of such controversies. France managed to secure its place in S Africa at the expense of Ireland during a playoff match. Thierry Henry, the captain of the French team handled the ball illegally during the build-up to the scoring of the deciding goal by William Gallas, another French player.
In a single day on 27 June, both the quarter-finals match involved goal controversies which the victims believed played a significant role in their eventual loss of their matches.
In the England vs Germany match, Lampard’s shot at the German goal clearly crossed the goal line after it bounced off the cross-bar, before it bounced out of the goal again. It happened in a split-second and I don’t blame the referee for missing it. But live video replays showed millions of viewers worldwide that it clearly should have been a goal. England naturally believes if that goal had been rightfully awarded, they would have played the match differently and possibly could have won the match eventually.
In the Mexico vs Argentina match, the opening goal by Argentina’s Carlos Tevez should have been disallowed because he was offside – an infringement whereby the player is nearer to the opponent’s goal than any of the opponent’s players (except the goalkeeper) at the time the ball is passed to him. Video replays around the stadium showed clearly that Tevez was indeed offside and the Mexican players naturally remonstrated with the referee to nullify the goal. The referee, despite consulting with his assistant referees, allowed the goal and Argentina went on to score two more goals to win the match eventually.
If you ask me, I don’t blame the referees at all. Some of these infringements happen in the split of a second and it is entirely possible for the referees on the ground to miss it – since they are only human and they have to keep watch in many directions at once and sometimes from a distance. And I’m not sure they are encouraged to change their decisions based on video replays since the practice is not officially sanctioned.
Is it really impossible to eliminate these controversies? Is it really a question of technology? I provide some suggestions to Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, in my next post tomorrow.