Posted by Stuart Grimshaw | Posted in tech | Posted on 26-07-2009
In my last article I covered the history of goal line technology, and how despite the best efforts of various FAs and manufacturers, FIFA still refuse to entertain any encroachment of technology onto the pitch.
In March 2008 the IFAB
Why does IFAB hold such a fear of technology? Ever since it’s inception the IFAB has maintained that the appeal of football is it’s simplicity (despite what they did to the offside law) and that any introduction of technology complicates the game.
They also insist that the rules must be able to be applied at all levels of the game, and any technology must be able to be used right from the very top of the game to the bottom. However as any Sunday League player will tell you, they struggle to get a referee most weeks, and use spectators for linesmen, never mind finding another 2 officials to watch behind the goals, which is the current solution preferred by IFAB (or FIFA and it’s 4 IFAB votes at least). This idea will be tested during the 2009/10 Europa League where each match will have a total of 6 referees!
FIFA president, Sepp Blatter remains firm on his organizations anti-technology stance:
“We are too conservative and behind technology but we’re not so far behind tennis,” said Blatter. “In tennis, you stop the game. In football the game goes on, it never stops.”
It’s all too easy to pick holes in that argument, because football does stop. After every contentious decision players crowd the referee, arguing, shouting and intimidating him, it would take a lot less time to resolve it via a video replay. It works well for Rugby which is just a free flowing as football.
