The debate about the implementation of the various technologies in football such as the Hawkeye system used in tennis to determine whether the tennis ball falls into or outside of the court has been raging for quite some-time. It has died down in recent times due to the persistent unwillingness of FIFA, the world's football governing body to implement such technologies in football. Even when FIFA attempts to implement this, it has always encountered stumbling blocks especially in their voting system with the International FA Boards (IFAB) which consists of the FA (Football Association) of the various “countries” in the United Kingdom. The FA of Wales and Northern Ireland, that have veto power in the voting system always utilize their veto as they are afraid that their semi-pro leagues will be neglected as top leagues would get the top priority and have the best financial position to implement the technologies. However, this debate was re-ignited to an almost bordering to the ridiculous proportions after the last 16 round of World Cup 2010.
First, we have Argentina's 3-1 victory over Mexico, in which one of Argentina's goals from Tevez was totally offside but the linesmen and the referee gave the goal to Argentina. This incident was just a very small one compared to the second one which I am about to say, the one which arguably set the tone of the re-ignition of the wild and intense technology debate. That's none other than 1966 Wembley moment re-enacted in such a twisted manner. Frank Lampard shot towards goal from distance, hit the bar, bounced over the goal line, and out again. The referee did not consider that a goal and waved play on as the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer caught the ball. England is arguably the most media featured team in the world. Just open any football websites and/or newspapers, especially English language ones, and there's not even a day without England somewhere in the papers. Even if there's no mention of them on the Sports pages, they would hit other pages, even front pages (Ashley and Cheryl Cole split and Terry vs Bridge anyone?). Thus, when England is the team at the end of such a refereeing error which definitely calls for the introduction of technology, we could expect an intense debate for the introduction of technology and that's what we have been getting. In any case, this implementation of technology should have continued on to be debated instead of waiting for such a high profile and most media featured team to be adversely affected by it. Along with modernity, as well as the continuing incidences of high profile errors at the very top level and not forgetting how other sports such as tennis as mentioned above have implemented it long ago, it is pertinent that technology should be incorporated into the beautiful game for the better f the sport as well as for everyone associated with it.
Firstly, the obvious reason why technology should be implemented in football is because of the aforementioned high profile incidents that are game-changing. I also remembered somewhere in 2005 or 2006 if I am not wrong, there was a similar incident whereby the then Tottenham player Pedro Mendes launched a blistering shot from distance and the then Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll parried it, but replays showed that the ball had passed the goal line before Carroll clawed it out of the net into safety. There are many more incidents like this, and the teams which are adversely affected by this such as Tottenham and England, especially England will argue to the end of the world that had their goal was allowed they would have clawed the scoreline back to 2-2 at that time with Germany after being 2 goals down, and they argue that they could have gone on to win the match. For one, I have to side with the English this time as prior to that incident, England was totally dominating the game, and had that gone in, I believe that England would have gone on to win the game, provided that they continue their dominance during that 15 minute period or so until the end of the game. This shows that this kind of unnecessary and frankly preventable errors definitely twist around the results of matches. Teams that should have won, did not, and on the other hand, teams that should not have won, won the match. Thus, it is absolutely necessary for FIFA to consider implementing technology in football so that teams that deserve to win a game could win a game. This is just about justice being heralded in the professional football games at the highest levels. Not forgetting the fact that football at that level should not contain such embarrassing errors.
The second reason is simply due to the flow of time. We have heard from topics outside of football on how certain beliefs are seen to refuse to embrace the modernity (or even post-modernity) which is here whether we like it or not, and that the reasons by the adherents of those certain beliefs are all pointing towards one word “traditionalism and purism”. Alright, basically that's exactly the very same set of reasons given by Sepp Blatter, the incumbent FIFA President against the implementation of technology in football. However, as mentioned above, football is inevitably will have to take on the modern era head-on, especially considering how other sports have taken those steps to adapt and evolve along with an era increasingly laden with various technological advancements. With the increasingly often game changing errors as mentioned just now, it adds more impetus for those at the top rungs of the footballing universe to just embrace the available various technologies and improve the game such that it would minimize and even eradicate ridiculous mistakes in the game at least at the professional level.
Another reason justifying the technology's introduction to football is of course to discourage yet another increasing sad trend in football, and that's the dark arts of the game such as diving (nowadays called simulating for softer effects), blatant handballs, and also influencing a referee by acting (such as when Maradona told his teammates “Hug me, or the ref won't allow it” right after the Hand of God goal). This will move us on away from tennis, and for the incorporation of the video replays into the games. We know that if we watch the football games on television, we are always served up plenty of video replays repeatedly after each goal and/or controversial decisions. Even in the stadium itself, there's a big screen basically screening the match to the people who are somewhere in row Z (read: at the very back end and high up in the stands). However, the referee must not make a decision out of those replays and even based on what he and/or his linesmen are seeing on the big screen in the stadum, and that the referee's decision is final, and not even if he realizes his mistake later on, he won't be able to make any changes to his decision no matter what. One example of this was in the 2006 World Cup final during the famous “Zidane headbutt” incident. When the referee was busy officiating with his back facing Marco Materazzi and Zinedine Zidane, Zidane headbutted Materazzi as it is said (although even until today no one knows the exact real event) that the Italian had blurted some words about Zidane's mother and sister which did not sit well with the Frenchman. Although the incident happened with the ref's back facing them, he was able to see the incident on the aforementioned big screen in the stadium and he duly dished out a red card for Zidane. Although the referee was not supposed to use video evidence and have to see it with his own eyes, he had dished the red card, and also considering the referee's decision is final, go figure... In any case, technology did help the referee to make an informed decision.
What was proposed is simply the kind of video replay utilization used in rugby, in which each team has several chances (usually two) to contest any controversial decisions in the match. Then, the video replays will be used to judge a decision, for example whether a handball is deliberate, whether the ball has crossed the line, etc. Then the referee could overturn that decision based on the video replays. Since it has been proven in the aforementioned 2006 World Cup Final that technology has the potential to help referees to make more informed and correct decisions, why not implement it. It is true that change will undoubtedly trigger resistance to change, but that's the way it is.
Another benefit that FIFA could gain from the above implementation is just like what NFL is benefiting. During the replay assessment period when managers call for the video replay to contest a decision, there will be a short break on the game, and in NFL, usually this is used as a room for advertisements. This will undoubtedly generate even more cash for FIFA, as since it is a non-profit organization, thus more profits could be generated and more funds could be directed to FIFA projects to make football worldwide better such as its GOAL project. This will certainly go a long way in making football a better sport around the globe.
However, despite the obvious benefits that the footballing universe stand to gain from the implementation of technology in football as explained above, we have to remember that despite any arguments around the world that technology will make football a game which is what they call “too perfect” and becomes boring and one-dimensional and that we will miss all those dramas and controversies, they are in for a surprise if technology is really implemented. We know that technology itself is not perfect, and at some point there might be errors with the technology itself. Who is to say that no matter how well tested and tried technology is totally foolproof? I believe even if there's a total revamp in football such that even the referees themselves are replaced by totally cold but advanced robots, there are bounds to be errors from them sooner or later, and it won't be long before a new debate surfaces about the re-introduction of more human elements in the game.
However, I still feel that a degree of technological implementations such as the goal line technology as well as the video replays are still necessary considering how every game at the top level is such a high-stakes game right now. In short, patience is not a virtue in modern football, and that winning is virtually everything. Managers are sacked as soon as they are hired just because of a few blips of performance and not only careers are in jeopardy with defeats, but even lives are in danger. We have seen how Andres Escobar was shot after 1994 World Cup due to his own goal. Thus, it is pertinent that we remember that those dangers exist for the players, managers, and even the referees (there have been countless cases of death threats against the referees, and few notable cases such as that of Andres Frisk that they have to retire to avoid all the flak) for any wrong decisions and/or defeats. Thus, it it still necessary and would be great for the sport if FIFA could come with a grand plan to minimize those mistakes and finally augment football with the kind of technologies that have been serving other sports well.
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