sensible, intelligent chap, that Hackett
Clearly, FLT!
It is interesting to note that the BBC article begins to quote bloody stats. As I have argued for years, the qualitative experience is also valid. "Right decisions" will include booking a player for removing his shirt - bloody hell, that must be a difficult one to call.
But the big issues have to be around the ability to change a decision and technology. On the first, if anyone has the time to find this story then good luck to them, but I recall a top ref in an FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Arsenal reversing the decision to award Chelsea a penalty on the not unreasonable grounds that the foul had taken place outside the area. To give it an era, Peter Osgood complained that the ref had "bottled it". In fact he changed his mind as his linesman called him over and told him he'd got it wrong. It was a big call, and could have made the ref look like an idiot. It didn't because as football fans, even Chelsea ones on this occasion, we want refs to get it right.
Technology could be used as a "super-assistant". The ball had gone dead when Liverpool were awarded that first penalty against Leicester. A quick glance at a TV monitor and the ref would have realised his penalty call was wrong. Given the value of a goal in our beloved game, getting a penalty call right is critical. By definition, as soon as the ref makes his call the ball goes dead. He could ask for a review which would take seconds. He could then either award the penalty or a goal kick.
In cricket, when a batsman is dismissed it is possible to check whether the the ball was legitimate. Surely, if there is a suspicion of offside or a foul in the lead up to a goal it wouldn't be that difficult for a ref to check on the monitor. Why not go the full hog and give the two captains three referrals each before the game? It might even stop the scrum of players around the ref after a decision.
In my view, it definitely is broke and needs fixing. It is no good saying refs get over 90% of decisions right if they are getting the big ones wrong. Saying it's a corner not a goal kick is a pain in the arse; saying it's a goal when the scorer is offside or awarding a penalty when the ball strikes a player's face dramatically changes the game.
I know the FA say the same rules must apply for Sunday League, but this is nonsense. The bad penalty call at Anfield could cost Leicester City a fortune. When I played for the "Dog and Duck" a bad decision cost the referee a pint after the game!