Good thing ? http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/video-referees-football-move-closer-4029264#,U-c7XGdOyUk
It's about time, it works in other sports, why not football. Anything that will help the referees stamp out cheating should be explored and this could go a long way towards doing it.
I disagree, when a big decision is given incorrectly you lose a load of time with players surrounding the ref complaining. For the sake of of a few more seconds the video ref could be consulted and the correct result made. It's not as if its unlimited appeals, 2 a half so 4 a game max. With the amount of money in the game now, millions of pounds can swing on a bad decision.
I have yet to see a decent account of how it would actually work. "Managers have X appeals". When can they appeal? How is the game stopped? Many 'dubious decisions' result in no action (and no action is often the correct decision). What if the opposition is on the attack immediately after the 'dubious decision'? Can a manager just stop the game? Could a manager just stop a dangerous attack by claiming there is something they want reviewing? Games can continue for 10+ minutes without the ball going out of play - when/how is this reviewed? Apart from never seeing a decent account of how reviews could be implemented - I also think it wouldn't be good for the game. Sure, i'm all for somehow finding a way to help referees when they make a howler. But, far more likely is that it would become a tactical tool. Often managers complain after a game about decision which there is STILL no consensus on after 500 slow-motion replays. So many football decisions are nuanced. It would be a joke. Find a way to review/reverse howlers (i.e. far fewer than 1 per game), and i'm on board - but I can't see how you implement it.
I agree it will help stop cheating, but i would be surprised if it stopped it altogether. For example it would be worth cheating for a penalty in a cup final if it wins you the trophy. They might not be too concerned about a retrospective ban at the start of the next season and the result would still stand. I would like to see video refs and retrospective bans for cheats.
I agree with all of your points, if implemented it needs to be right. For instance if a decision is not clear, advantage could go to the attacking team or the original decision still stands. Put a time limit on how long the video ref can take. It needs to be made clear what exactly can be appealed and when you can appeal. It's all possible though. There will still be mistakes made but hopefully it will cut down on a lot of poor decisions.
Sod the review system. Bring video refereeing in but leave it's use entirely up to the ref's discretion. Nothing tactical about it that way. You still have a point about it slowing the game down... although it does in every other sport, but I believe they're all better for having video refs regardless. Football is in the dark ages at the moment.
The problem with that approach is that it makes it too easy for the ref not to make a decision and leave it for the man in the stands. That is the worst thing about the ref in rugby league IMO. (I still think it works better than none at all though.)
Retrospective punishments wouldn't work. As some mentioned some will take the punishment if they get a trophy (look at Suarez in 2010 which I know is different but people will cheat). In order for the game not to be slowed down you would have to play advantage if the play continued and when the ball goes out or the play stops only then is a manager allowed to appeal. Something that would be a better option is that you have 3 video refs all watching the action, if something contentious happens then they can appeal the decisions themselves. This works in the NFL where the video officials step in on contentious issues. I think for the sake of extending the game I would rather the correct decision be made
One review per game for each team. I can't see them wasting it by abusing the system. The ref just stops the game when the manager makes a signal that he wants a review. Most of the time the ball will be out of play anyway. Fourth official and the ref watch a monitor and decide what to do. Why not try it ? If it doesn't work then scrap it. We can't carry on like we are doing. Our many points did city lose because of bad referee decisions last year ? How many games were directly influenced by terrible decisions ? Too many !
What if it goes to the video ref and its inconclusive? Quite alot of decisions are down to opinion anyway(especially penalties) so would it just be used for goals?
What about a corner that's given incorrectly that leads to a goal, or a throw in. I think video refs are a great idea, but would it take the fun out of the game. On TV you get to see instant replays from numerous angles & can jump online & complain about all sorts of **** straight away, if it's the same thing for video refs then do it, if it's going to be some jumbled up crap the don't even waste the time.
I think each game should be looked at and any player found to be acting should face a 20,000 pound fine along with the club and a 3 match ban with the points been awarded to the other team if any accidents caused the wrong result,also if a player is not on his feet after about 10 seconds he should after go off and be checked out by the independent doctor and stay off for 5 minutes.
I think it will slow the game down, goal line technology for the moment is as far as it should go. In Rugby league now fans are getting pissed off with it, as the referees are now turning to the Video evidence more and more and just not making the decision themselves, which slows the game down.
