Two extremely bad referee decisions in one night was too much. That it was equally divided between two football matches did not make it any easier. It did though raise queries once more whether popular sports such as football and cricket should embrace technology more and reduce player error.
giant screen technology
The Mexico footballers were virtually up in arms against the FIFA officials at half time, knowing that Brazil were able to add the first goal when it was clear the player was off side. That it was apparent for the world to see led to more embarrassment for the organizers of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa as England were denied a Frank Lampard goal when it was obvious that the ball has bounced inside the net after hitting the cross bar only to bounce back. But the fact that Argentina and Germany (who move on to face each in the quarter final clash) won their matches rather comprehensively perhaps saved face for FIFA because had the respective matches been decided on those controversial goals, all hell could have broken loose.
The error in the England v Germany match had experts begging why technology had not come to aid of the human referee yet. While there were plenty of good decisions, the glaring errors did the role of the referee great disservice.
But it also showed that every sport, be it football or cricket, was struggling to adapt to the demands of the modern day when the cameras captures it all and there are millions of referees across high definition television sets who do not lose sight of the tiniest ‘foul’ on the part of the referee or umpire as the case may be.
While cricket had traditionally battled technology for want of good angles and better technology – the umpire decision review system ( UDRS ) being a case in point – as also of eliminating the human element to decision making, football seems even more resistant to having technology decide the game. Tennis sees a UDRS-like system where a player can ask for a review of a point twice in a set but stands to lose more than just the review if his decision is negated.
Finding the precise technology as well as the perfect balance is what will take the game forward. Until such time, controversies will continue to rule the roost.
UDRS May Become Feature of ODIs after Tests
Collingwood's Men Get Support from England Football's Frank Lampard, Fabio Capello
Football World Cup Fever Reflects and Replaces Cricket’s Doldrums; Asia Cup Snubbed
Why the Asia Cup 2010 Needed an India Pakistan Final
England in a Fix - Do They Watch Eng v Ger Football World Cup or Eng v Aus ODI 3?
‘This is It’ ? Well, Not Quite, Not as Far as the World Cup is Concerned
Images of a Testing Contest between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2010
Match Referee Takes a Lenient View of the Flare Ups Between Indian and Pakistan Cricketers
Commonwealth Games Have Competition in India Australia Cricket Series
After FIFA World Cup, South Africa Announce Venues for Champions League Twenty20
Will Club v Country Debate Apply to Michael Ballack?
Related Stories
Match referee speaks to Aamer about Future Conduct
Chris Broad from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees has spoken to Pakistan’s 18-year-old fast bowler Mohammad Aamer in relation to his conduct following the dismissal of Australia captain Ricky Ponting on day one of the first Test...
Franchisees Plead with Modi for No Major Shuffle/Auction for IPL 4
Even as Lalit Modi talked about how the few spots that were left were filled given that this was only for one year, the franchisees were openly pleading with the IPL Commissioner to rethink the decision to shuffle all players for IPL 4. While...
I Hope Mr. Gambhir will Learn a Lesson - Match Referee-Chris Broad
Gautam Gambhir have been penalized for elbow touch with Australian All Rounder-Shane Watson. He would not be able to play fourth and Final Match against Australia,in Nagpur. He was charged under C1 Level 2 that means he did not play the game with..
Match Referee Takes a Lenient View of the Flare Ups Between Indian and Pakistan Cricketers
The India v Pakistan match at the Asia Cup 2010 brought out plenty of angst and anger. But the match referee has chosen to view the flare ups in the context and give the players a clean chit. Match referee, Andy Pycroft, chose to play down the...
Virat Kohli And Co. Enjoy Bike Ride before Formula One Racing ( See Pics)
Is it not known that the Indian cricketers can also love demons of speed? Even as some of the Indian cricket team will fly to Noida for the first Formula One Indian Grand Prix, they did enjoy bike rides, although not on the circuit, with the keys firmly w
