State Of Play - FIFA & The Role of Technology - Update #2

Two nights ago I was coming back home from a Toronto FC - Los Angeles Galaxy match at BMO Field in downtown Toronto, trying to avoid G20 protesters, a slight downpour, and the memories of a perfectly boring 0-0 draw between both teams, when my friend, showing off his brand new car stereo system, played a cover of the Justin Timberlake and 50 Cent duet, Ayo Technology. Listen, I am a sucker for catchy hip-hop jams, no doubt about it, but this version of Ayo Technology was not only hilarious, but somewhat enjoyable especially when the artist Milow combines hit guitar strumming talents with his silky smooth voice.

But in all seriousness, FIFA we have a technology problem. It is an absolute disgrace that in this era of technology, instant replay and high definition television we still are forced to make the most critical decisions in the world's most heated tournament with the naked eye. But this is not even the worse offense of the whole situation, the reasoning that FIFA uses to explain their anti-technology is completely incomprehensible and only understandable by idiots and monkeys.

In this day and age of HDTV and camera angles from every possible vantage point, it is absolutely ridiculous that  FIFA cannot implement some sort of replay system that would take these considerations into account.

Here is a possible solution:

Chip Technology

With all the debate about the Jabulani, really who is going to notice any difference if FIFA would install a microchip that would signal to the referee at the moment the ball crossed the line and instant replay officials would immediately begin reviewing the footage even as the celebration continued.

For most goals, mere seconds would be all that was necessary. Determining a goal in the NHL, as an example, is much more difficult than determining a goal in soccer, yet the NHL manages to implement its system just about flawlessly.

HD Technology

If you have an HD television, you will notice that on the offside replays there is a shading mechanism showing whether a player was on or offside during the play. Therefore, using this format the fourth official would easily be able to make the correct call

Again, the trigger for instant replay review only occurs when the ball enters the net. At no other time would bit be involved.

What About FIFA's Excuse?

FIFA is against instant replay publicly because it will ultimately affect the purity of the game, and that while the World Cup will be able to have instant replay, children playing in Africa will not be able to have the same luxuries, and that would mean that the essence of football loses when it cannot be played like for like across the globe. 

I am sorry, but if children across the world had millions of people watching their matches, with millions of dollars at stake and millions of beers being consumed at every match then, maybe, and just maybe I understand FIFA's position to ensure that every match of football played on every pitch across the world be exactly the same, but this is the World Cup, not your intramural father's bush league Sunday kick about.

At the end of the day, the World Cup is being attacked because of the stubbornness of FIFA, and it is now their responsibility to act, and to ensure that these school boy mistakes are minimized at the least.