Technology and football is a combination many have been crying out for but to no avail. You would have thought that after the Hand of God incident officials would clamour at the opportunity to utilise technology in football matches but it seems those at the helm of FIFA don’t think it’s such a good idea.
During the Lakers v Bulls game on Christmas Day I noted how the referees were happy to use instant replay before giving a foul in instances where they were unsure. There was no booing from fans, there didn’t appear to be any resistance from players and the game was officiated fairly.
If football sought to utilise these resources, the recent match between Everton and Sunderland might have ended with a win for Sunderland. Those of us who watched the replays clearly saw that the only thing that brought Osman down in the penalty area was his own two feet. Despite the outrage from fans and players alike, a penalty was nonetheless rewarded and Sunderland had to settle for a draw.
There has always been the argument that introducing technology to football will have a negative impact on the pace of the game, but I suspect Sunderland fans will vehemently disagree with that sentiment. Technology doesn’t need to be cumbersome as is evidenced by its role in rugby, basketball, tennis and cricket.
Sepp Blatter reckons goal line technology could be in place by the 2012 – 2013 season, here’s hoping instant replays are introduced at the same time.
