FIFA refuses to embrace television technology
Soccer's world governing body FIFA appears determined to ignore one of the most important technological advances of the last 50 years by refusing to use television replays to help referees make difficult decisions.
Despite damaging refereeing controversies at the 2002 World Cup and a call last week from England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for the use of replays, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has decided against taking the world's most popular game into the technological age.
The American National Basketball Association (NBA) has this year decided to embrace replays and television evidence is already used in American Football, rugby and cricket.
But FIFA decided this week to experiment with extra officials behind the goals in a bid to solve soccer's problems.
To some, football is starting to look like the Luddite of 21st century sport despite its huge appeal across the world.
"As long as I am president of FIFA, I am totally opposed to artificial help for referees in FIFA-controlled matches," FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has repeated on several occasions. "We have to rely on human beings -- and human beings make mistakes."
FIFA's view is particularly striking after World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan which will be remembered as the "tournament of technology".
Millions of Koreans gathered around high-tech screens set up in the streets to create a unique atmosphere in a country where people watch television in cars, subways and saunas. Some fans even watched World Cup matches in 3-D.
Other sports have realised there is a generation of spectators which has grown up analysing sporting action on television and will not stomach refereeing mistakes in an era when millions of dollars can be at stake.
Television companies have responded to the computer and digital television age with super slow-motion replays and high-tech graphics capable of analysing any controversial decision.
NBA REPLAYS
In July the NBA approved the limited use of instant replays to help officials determine whether last-second shots beat the buzzer. The decision was taken after controversial finishes to important playoff games.
Following rugby league's lead, rugby union has been using replay technology to decide whether a try (or touchdown) is scored for several seasons.
Cricket introduced a third umpire in the stands in addition to the two on the field to rule on close calls following contentious decisions.
Even American Football, where games can already exceed three hours, allows coaches the time to make instant replay challenges during a game.
The World Cup was dominated by refereeing controversies involving leading nations such as Spain and Italy. Eriksson believes referees should have the option to view replays to determine if a foul has been committed or a goal scored.
"It is time to ask technology for help," he said at a meeting of leading coaches last week.
"If the referee wants help, he should have the option to go to the touchline and look at the review during the game ... especially if it is happening inside the penalty box.
"Surely, when the referee blows for a penalty or not, he cannot be 100 percent certain every time. And when he's not sure, why not go out there (to the replay)? It would take 30 seconds."
Leading referees are against the idea, however.
FIFA is pinning its hopes on referee assistants behind the goal line, an idea proposed by former France captain and manager Michel Platini.
"Video replays are not the solution," Platini said at the World Cup finals.
"If we introduced them to check whether the ball had crossed the line, we would end up with a situation where they would have to be used for fouls, offsides and penalties. Impossible."
