But is that difference between the pros and the amateurs a good thing? I'd argue that overall it isn't. And the introduction of technology is only going to add to that ever widening gulf.
. I was half expecting zero replies to this thread. But its turning into an interesting read. I dont like the idea, but football is such a money monster now, maybe its needed. One error can cost millions.
I go to quite a few premiership rugby games and I'm pretty certain most if not all VMO replays are shown on the screens. You've got to take into account that there is a vast difference between football crowds and rugby/cricket/tennis crowds. If the crowd disagreed with a video replay decision at a football match you could have serious trouble.
There are some fair points on here, it might be best if the video refs were anonymous and replays weren't shown. Just another pair of eyes the referee can call on when required but one with the benefit of being able to rewind time and have another look.
If teams questioned every corner, throw in, goalkick with a tv replay they'll still be playing when Match of the Day starts!
I'm for it. as I've been saying it for what seems like forever. When one decision from a bias or inept ref can cost over 100m you know you've got to get refereeing standards to high level, we simply haven't. The world is evolving, ignoring available technology is short sighted imo.
Think your idea of this is already out of date fella. Think the end game is for the correct decision to be made without question mate. Sensor Chip in ball and in players clothing and the decision will be automatic and instant with no need for player interference. The technology is already there to do it.
I may be totally wrong here but at the end of the day we all want the right decisions to be made, good or bad for the team you support, video replays on controversial decisions we can accept if they are vetted and everyone can see why a particular ruling was made. Some people love the idea of blaming referees or their assistants when they have lost a game, it gives them something to argue or discuss in the pub after the game. I would sooner talk about what certain players got right or wrong, after all they are the people who cause these these problems.
Possibly we have all become a little side tracked by how useful we think the overhead video ref will be. After all in the case of the OP the guy was found to be the last man and was sent off, but he could have been the last man by millimetres leading to a harsh red card. For me Sterling ran into PVA on Saturday but made the most of the contact leading to the penalty. Can't see a overhead camera sorting that kind of incident out. Can only see it being good for offsides or last defender issues. We all sign up for the vagaries of football and have to take that the ref will have the final say so on other incidents and he will get it as wrong as the player who misses a sitter or a penalty or the keeper who drops a clanger.
Reckon we are hard done to quite a bit but equally if it relies on the ref referring it then you could still have human error where things aren't referred where they should be due to bias and a post-modern Fergie effect. Good in theory like and works well in cricket but you still get mistakes and things not looked at that should or folk missing things on replays. maybe 2 referrals a game per team which don't get used up if you are successful and ref can refer as well if they want would work ok. Not against this at all but devil is in detail
It is used in Rugby league in Australia some of the decisions can take an awful long time with numerous replays and even then get it wrong
Used in Rugby League in the UK too and they get 99% right. The AFL is one of the most backwards old fashioned sports I've come across and even they use technology.
I watch Rugby League down here, along with AFL, and no referee in NRL (not as much the AFL) can make a decision without sending it upstairs. You spend 5 minutes after every try watching replays to see if it was a try. Even when without it you knew it was a try :/ Technology is good, but you can become to reliant on it. NRL pisses me off due to its overuse of the video ref for absolutely everything. I think it can be good only for situations where it could lead to a game changing decision (red card - if not blatantly obvious), close offsides etc.
