Ken

Dear Editor,

The world of football, which is far larger than the United Nations, is now anxiously awaiting the decision of the International Federation of Football Associations whether to allow video footage of football matches to back up referees. This is a matter that has engaged the attention of FIFA national associations and referees over the past 20 years, but no decision has been arrived at.

The new interest in the matter followed a World Cup match between France and Ireland in which the captain of the French team, Thierry Henry, deliberately handled the ball to set up a goal for his teammate. The goal had grave consequences because it enabled France to draw the match 1-1 and an aggregate win of 2-1, thereby advancing the country to the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

It was one of those unfortunate incidents that happen in refereeing and perhaps the referee will be censured. However, a referee cannot see all the offences and neither can his linesmen. For both the referee and the linesman to miss such a blatant handsball is unusual but quite possible. Their view may have been blocked by one or more players on the field.

There was a flood of requests for the match to be replayed. FIFA was quite right in disallowing a replay. The laws of the game say that on such a matter the decision of the referee (or lack thereof) is final.

While the game of cricket can be stopped by the umpire when he is in doubt and a video playback is helpful, that application to football would slow down the game. We have to remember that the rapid pace of football compared to other games is what makes it so attractive to spectators. Imagine having to stop the game for a video show when the referee is in doubt about intentional handling, pushing, jumping at a player, off-side, striking a player, tripping, kicking and other fouls.

The offences, whether intentional or unintentional, are so many in the laws of the game that using video as a third referee would slow down the game and make it lose its distinct characteristics. I am more in favour of having two referees in the middle and two linesmen. Each referee and a linesman would control each half of the field. This was done on an experimental basis in many countries, including Jamaica, many years ago but it was abandoned by FIFA. It did not prevent referees from making errors.

The laws of the game are so complex that every referee makes mistakes in every match. The good referees are those who make fewer mistakes.

Chaplin Stony Hill St Andrew