World Cup: A Way to Help Referees

When FIFA President Sepp Blatter threw one of his own referees under the bus following the Portugal/Netherlands debacle, I thought to myself a) this guy has to go and b) soccer needs a small overhaul. Especially considering it was Mr. Blatter who ordered his refs to flash more yellow and red cards. He sent a mixed message.

Why shouldn't soccer - God only knows how many times in the past I have said this - consider video replay as an option?

Soccer fans are way too subjective when it comes to the sport. They are not above arguing the most idiotic and insignificant of things. This is why odd debates that sometimes enrage fans and countries take place. The sport needs a good dose of objectivity injected into it. There is indeed very little objectivity. Though statistics are kept, they remain irrelevant or at the very least open to selective interpretation. Having ball possession, for example, may please the interloping fan but an astute fan will not be impressed if nothing concrete is done with the ball. It may seem on the surface a team is dominant but it means very little (see France versus Italy as a recent example). You don't win titles by looking pretty.

For years I have said that FIFA needs to modernize. Video replay would help the refs (not to mention return their dignity) and restore some fairness to the game. I would not be surprised if the game is vastly improved in terms of quality and goals if this happens. It may never narrow the gap between countries with high standards of officiating such as in England Italy and the rest of the world but it will most certainly narrow it.* They need to also strongly consider bringing nothing but the best refs regardless of where they are from. 'France Football' put it best in their July 11 issue, "Le football doit travailler sérieusement å l'amélioration de son "objectivité" et å la diminution de sa "subjectivité." Translation: soccer has to work hard to seriously improve the game by greatly reducing the subjective factor and greatly increase the objective factor.

I could not agree more and I am glad that finally a major soccer magazine is at least opening the debate.

*Team Canada in hockey and Team USA in basketball have often justifiably complained about international officiating. They have learnt to adjust while the officiating has improved greatly. However, a clear difference on how different federations interpret their respective sports remains. The same grievance is found with Italy and England in soccer.