I know this has been done to death but I found this picture online today. Because the goal post obscures the complete picture it cannot be confirmed as definitive…
But what I would say is that in the spirit of the game, if this is not a goal, then I don’t know what is! Surely a ‘thinner’ goal line and cameras built into the goal posts with infra red beams could be introduced for top class matches to ‘assist’ referees with their decision. It is about time FIFA introduced these modern technologies to aide referees with these tight and critical decisions.
Personally, I would like to see some other rules introduced to our game that already work perfectly well in other sports such as Rugby (both Union and league), Cricket, Tennis etc. The first would be to stop ALL players being able to approach the referee except for the respective captains. All of this nonsense of ‘crowding’ referee’s with pushing, shoving, verbal abuse etc etc is NOT in the spirit of the game. Justifiable complaint should be put forward by the team captains ONLY if we are to get any real ‘respect’ for refs.
Some people will agree and others will disagree but I would like to hear what other fans think. What other rules would you like to see introduced that YOU feel would enhance the game (if any)?
Referees desperately need ‘assistance’ now. I have an abiding memory of last year’s World Cup finals in South Africa when Chile (I believe it was) ‘scored’ an obvious off side goal. The referee gave the ‘goal’ but as he and the Chilean team were heading back to the half way line, the replay came up on a giant monitor in the ground. It was obvious to ALL that a Chile player was a mile off side and the referee and his linesman were made to look completely incompetent. The crowd were then constantly on his back for the rest of the game. That ref later apologised for his ‘mistake’. Referees are already miked-up and in direct contact with their fellow officials, so the 4th official (with instant replay at his disposal), as in rugby would negate much of this type of thing.
We all love the beautiful game and I agree that we must be cautious in introducing new laws/rules for the sake of it but I also believe that there are situations and circumstances that dictate we must now start introducing ‘proven’ technologies. Our modern game is now so highly professional and critical so why should we as fans have to put up with the exact same standards as the amateur game? Surely it is time to give referees who are under the spot light of television the help they so obviously need and require to make the right decisions.
