It’s not 1904*, Mr Blatter: why can’t soccer join the 21st Century?

Innovation can, and is, applied to enrich sport: particularly video and detection technology to improve the fast, accurate and consistent application of the rules.  Think of Hawk-Eye in cricket and tennis, or digital playback of questionable plays in American football.  Yet I was again struck this weekend on how the application of rules in soccer is rooted in the past, despite clear evidence the pace of the game has outstripped these ancient practices.  

The fact is the English Premier league title might be decided by poor refereeing rather than skillful play.  Many fans believe Chelsea won over Tottenham Hotspurs with a non-goal and an offside goal.  Similarly other fans believe Arsenal and Manchester United each had a penalty denied.  And earlier in the week there were doubts over a sending off in the Real-Barcelona Champion’s League semi-final.  And these are not the first in an ever-growing list of questionable decisions.  The many millions of fans around the world deserve better. They should see the team that is more skillful, organized or motivated win the game—not the one that is lucky because the officials made most mistakes in their favor. 

Now this is not the fault of the officials. At this level they are clearly professional and trying their best, especially in these top games.  Rather, the speed and skill of the game has outstripped the ability of the officials to keep up with play.  And the total coverage of television ruthlessly exposes their mistakes to all.  Soccer is being damaged, steadily but relentlessly, so that luck, not skill, plays more and more of a role in the outcomes.

To be fair to Mr. Blatter, FIFA is considering goal line technology: but very slowly.  To me that one is a no-brainer, do it FIFA!  In the 21^st century we should know whether it is a goal or not!  Having third and fourth opinions on refereeing decisions is admittedly more difficult.  The counter-argument being that it would slow the pace of the game.  However, surely we can use technology to help?  Rapid replay is possible. So are computer algorithms that detect from multiple video feeds whether it is, for example, handball or a high tackle.  The referee could receive advice automatically or from an external panel in very little time at all.  It is surely time soccer’s rulers joined the 21^st century and examined all the ways technological innovation could help the world’s favorite game.

*1904 is the year that FIFA was formed.  And I’ll confess I am a Manchester United fan.

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