It's funny I feel like there have been fewer controversies this year with really terrible decisions meriting widespread calls for video refereeing. The sceptic in me wonders whether that might have something to do with recent events at the top of the footballing pyramid... if you cut out the cancer...
I think the goalline technology has been excellent, and I can see the benefits of video refereeing in lots of ways. However, I am also a rugby fan and the video refereeing was excellent at first, but the latest world cup was marred by multiple instances of the referee unnecessarily going to the video ref and it put massive delays and interruptions on an already stilted game.
If video refereeing is brought in, it will help perceived "fairness" (although it doesn't stop the video referee's decision being criticised...) but it needs to be very carefully thought through to ensure that it is not heavy touch before making any rash decision which completely changes the game.


I think I ,like the idea of video assistance on penalty incidents that are questionable, but not red cards or fouls. Not sure about sin bins, 4th substitutes or emergency substitutes while injured players are treated though. Even though this is the season of goodwill, I think that might be taking things a bit too far. Sin bins possibly, but should they be before, after, or instead of, giving a yellow card?
I agree with video technology, but I'd like it to be similar to that used in American football where the ref goes to a sideline monitor for a replay to decide if the decision should be changed.
Also, welcome back from me as well, Dave - it hasn't been the same without you!

I think the goalline technology has been excellent, and I can see the benefits of video refereeing in lots of ways. However, I am also a rugby fan and the video refereeing was excellent at first, but the latest world cup was marred by multiple instances of the referee unnecessarily going to the video ref and it put massive delays and interruptions on an already stilted game.
Genuine question, and not picking selected highlights for scrutiny (I don't watch of follow rugby in an form) - how long are these massive delays?
Sorry my post was misleading. The delays individually probably aren't that long. I doubt anything like a minute, unless it's a really difficult decision - no different to the TMO in cricket. The trouble was there were a couple of matches where it went to the TMO more than just a handful of times and together it lengthened the match noticeably.
But the real issue is that it got to the stage where every time a try happened, the ref went to the TMO as if they were "just checking", even though it was obvious the try was fine. And then the rule is that the ref can go back (I think) up to two phases to check. That's frustrating because if there's a hint of a forward pass, who cares, but also two phases (or however far back they can go) can be as much as a minute in time if one team has kept the ball for ages. That doesn't sound like long, but in sporting terms a minute is ages - imagine if a video referee could go back a minute in football before a goal! That could take you a couple of goal kicks back, build ups to corners. It's very frustrating - I just wanted to see clear tries given and if they needed to check with the video ref that the ball was grounded properly, fine, but only when there is a crowd of bodies.