Video Technology - Football Needs You

Video technology is a subject that always divides the football community, and something I have always been against, until now.

I finally accepted this season that football is not what it once was, it is a business, it is corporate, and the clients, 'formerly known as fans' are taken for granted, especially in the premier league.

The financial reward for being a premier league club has bred, a win at all costs mentality, which seems to have been accepted in the football world by everyone, accept the fans (unless it is their club of course). A player will blatantly cheat during the game, but participates in a handshake at the end of the match from the team he has sinned against.

Football is evolving, It has come along way in the last 20 years, fitness, tactics, facilities, pitches, stadiums, safety, salaries. I could go on, but the one thing that has not matched this progress is the officiating. There is still one guy in black running up and down the pitch with a whistle and a couple of cards, but those two cards and whistle now come with a hell of a lot of more pressure, and with pressure comes mistakes, huge ones, season defining ones, confidence and moral shattering decisions, that ruin our weekend, and our partners, and could potentially bankrupt your club.

So what is the solution? I personally do not see anything other than video replay technology, controlled technology that is. Now, there is the obvious HawkEye goal line technology, that should in theory be self policing, I.e a signal is sent to referee if the ball goes over the line. This is a given, and I do not think we need to elaborate. What we do need is a solution for offsides, dives, off the ball incidents also needs something, and this is where I think we take inspiration from Rugby, Cricket & Tennis.

Each captain has the right to challenge three decisions each, during a game, you would think/hope the officials are not going to balls up many more decisions that that. These challenges can only be used for handballs, fouls (free kicks, penalties), yellow & red cards & off the ball incidents.

An example of where this could be used was the QPR Vs Spurs on Saturday (21-04-2012). Sandro goes in for a legitimate challenge and Clattenburg gives a ridiculous free kick for handball, L King could then challenge the referee to go to 5th official in Video Room to review the decision, which will take all of 15 seconds. Drop Ball. I think any defending team would prefer a drop ball 25 yards out, than a direct free kick.

Other examples of use: Ghost Goal in Semi Final, Cahills Red Card @ White Hart Lane, numerous goal line cock ups, Ivanovic escaping giving Maloney a kidney pinch, Balotelli's Stamp.

Offsides would also work, a ball is played through, team go on to score, captain challenges, replay shows offside, goal disallowed, where this would fail, is if a striker was wrongly flagged offside, but 4th official should give slight advantage to striker, knowing too much of an advantage will result in a challenge.

There are flaws of course, if a captain challenges a penalty decision where he suspects the opposing team player has taken a dive, it's possible, as we have seen before, that the replay is inconclusive, the refs original decision must then stand.

This is something I have thought of whilst away from home, in a hotel, so I doubt I have covered all the angles, but surely a starting point ?

The usual response to video technology is "But, it will slow down the game (mocking whiny voice)". Really, will it? Let us look at the evidence, from taking note of the last few games, it has taken on average 45 seconds from a corner being given, to it being taken, and longer for a goal kick (unless of course we are in injury time), taking that into consideration, I do not see that being an issue at all.

The officials pretty much carry on as normal, but have the luxury of knowing that if a decision isn't challenged they are not going to get crucified by the fans and press the following day.

What do you think, we need to do something, surely?