How would you fix refereeing mistakes in soccer?

By ⋅ November 19, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

henry_handball150There’s outrage among Ireland’s soccer fans after France eliminated the Irish national team from the World Cup. A single goal crushed the Irish, a goal that came in overtime and after France’s Thierry Henry controled the ball with his hand. Around the globe soccer fans are once again pondering ways to avoid having such glaring missed calls determine the outcome of games. What’s your take?

Discussion

19 comments for “How would you fix refereeing mistakes in soccer?”

  • George

    That is the way that things go. Thirty years ago there would not have been a way to review such a play and it would be detrimental to the sport to implement it. Plus, Ireland is quick to demand a replay, but if it were they who scored the controversial goal, would they have appealed in the same way?

  • Carlos Araya

    I am not a pro in soccer but I love to watch games specially those form my country Costa Rica… I am very dissapointed to see FIFA´s.. rules and how games can be stolen in front of everybody´s nose. like France – Ireland.. what a shame And what is FIFA doing..?
    FIFA always ask for FAIR PLAY.. but the question is is FIFA FAIR PLAYING if not I am sure will loose lots of followers.

  • Janne Nielsen

    I have long thought a system like US Baseball’s playoff and World Series umpiring would be better. For important soccer matches, put an extra official on each goal line. These officials would have better, and different, views than the other officials for such important plays as corner kicks and fouls in the penalty area. I believe this is being tested in the Europa League this season, but I’ve not heard any feedback. Extra officials would keep intact the “flow of the game” which is so important to soccer.

  • John W. Wright

    The human element has always been a part of the game. Video review is not practical and unworkable.

    FIFA is now testing putting an additional official behind each goal in the Europa League, so we will see how this works and perhaps it will become standard practice for higher level games in the future.

    No video review in soccer!

    Long live the beautiful game!

  • Clyde Blackwelder

    The rules of soccer should not be tinkered with lightly; however, I think this event clearly shows the necessity for a minor change. Soccer should adopt a “limted video review” policy for use in just this sort of circumstance. Coaches would have the option once per half (or something similar)to demand a video review of any call that affects the outcome of the game – i.e a call that results directly in allowing or disallowing a goal. The clock continues to run (as always) and the time is made up by adding extra time at the end of each half (as is currently the case for any delay of game). In this case of France vs. Ireland, if the Irsh coach had not already used his option, his keeper could have clued him to demand the review. France’s goal would have been disallowed, and the match would have progressed to penalty kicks. The final result may or may not have been different, but at least it would have been more palatable to both sides.

  • John W. Wright

    What “nonsensical rules” are you referring to?

    Video replay will ruin the game, is not workable and still subject to human error and technical problems.

    Adding an official behind each goal, as FIFA is testing in the Europa League, is probably the best solution for high level games.

    Long live the beautiful game!

  • MZÄ

    In my humble opinion, this is a massive no-brainer: institute the replay rule, effective immediately. Human beings (refereeing officials) are not perfect. It makes no sense @ all that in the biggest sport in the world, with such a HUGE stake involved in most matches, FIFA/some fans are more concerned with changing stiff, nonsensical rules & keeping the status quo, instead of attempting to keep pace with common sense ideas when it comes to officiating/the rules. This type of mentality has been proved time & time again to be just plain wrong. The devastating loss suffered by Ireland proves this point yet again.

  • Joseph A. Migliore

    A similar occurrence with the infamous, “Maradona’s hand of God”, happened in the 1986 World Cup Quarter Final Game, knocking out England from the competition.
    FIFA soccer rules are absolute and brutal, especially during such critical important matches, such as during a World Cup.
    What should FIFA do to improve this lack of oversight, during the game on the field?
    Allow each team to have one-challenge during the game at the coaches discretion — this will enable the referee to temporarily stop the game for a controversial play review, FIFA should implement this rule prior to the June 2010 South African World Cup…
    People in North America are not that familiar with the rules of international soccer and the importance of such events, these important games happen once every four years and there is a great deal of national pride, yes, nationalism at stake here, there is no other greater honor for a country than to have a shot at the World Cup final competition.
    Unlike the NFL, where you have frequent breaks, time outs and delays during the game, it is relatively unheard of to stop a soccer match, unless due to injury or if a penalty kick is granted, due to a blatant foul.
    Let’s get real FIFA, they should make an exception for Ireland, re-play the match in a “neutral” country in Europe — what a way for France to go forward and to earn a spot for Johannesburg 2010!
    Moreover, there are two linesmen during the game, besides the regular referee, what where they doing while Frenchmen Henry was dribbling the ball?
    The Swedish referee who obviously has blown this game, should be banned from FIFA, period.
    FIFA should grant a re-match, considering excruciating circumstances. Irish national pride is at stake here, it is simply not fair to them.

  • Joseph A. Migliore

    Now that I’ve given FIFA an excellent, equitable fair way to prevent, or at least to allow each team an option during the competition for controversial plays…I’m hoping Joseph Blatter is reading my suggestion, I certainly would not mind being on a FIFA oversight committee for the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, S. Africa — and with being on the FIFA payroll.

    I’d like to see FIFA grant a re-match for Ireland vs. France, in a neutral European country, in light of fairness and integrity for the game.

  • John W. Wright

    Thank you for the excellent comment and I could not agree more.

    It is very unfortunate for the Irish that these extra officials were not in place for this game, however FIFA is addressing the issue and we shall see it works in the Europa League.

    Janne Nielsen, I hope your team wins!

    Long live the beautiful game!

  • tpatrick

    Have instant replay available to the refs after allowing a coach’s challenge to a bad referee call

  • Brian Romick

    I’m dismayed that in this segment of the radio show, you twice referred to your guest as a “soccer geek.” Perhaps HE wasn’t offended, but I don’t think that to refer to someone as a geek is generally thought of as a compliment. I beg your pardon if I’ve misunderstood, but you should choose your words more carefully. I’ve never heard of anyone refer to an American football analyst, fan, player, or coach as a “football geek.” Soccer players deserve the same respect as any of the world’s elite athletes, and fans of the world’s most popular sport (by far)should not be thought of as geeks because a radio show host happens to have the perception of soccer, as opposed to say, baseball, American football, or basketball, as a sport for geeks. An unfortunate example of American narrow-mindedness and self-focus. Not something I’ve come to expect from “The World.”

  • yann

    soccer “geek”? – shame on “The World”!

  • Jamie in NC

    I say shame on the offending player. I expect professional athletes to hold themselves to high standards and not steal games by unethical means. The ‘if the official doesn’t see it, it didn’t happen’ tradition is detrimental to the game. You can’t expect players to fess up to every misstep, as most rules do require some subjective interpretation, but smacking the ball with your hand and walking away with a win because of it is certainly black and white to me.

  • Alejandro G Reyes

    In the World Cup of Germany in 2006 I noticed that referees had headsets to communicate with each other. This allowed for them to catch a lot of things they missed. Like the time that Zinadine Zidane from France head butted an Italian players chest In the final match. This system is more then enough. I also think that this should be implemented in ever league all over the world.

  • norwood sisson

    sports don’t matter, soccer doesn’t matter, the world cup doesn’t matter, the game doesn’t matter, it’s all just entertainment.

  • hana

    Though unfortunate for the losing team, this is part of the game. if technology enter the judging booth, every fall and every kick will be questioned. ths is not the first time it happened and won’t be the last. it was a big deal because the out cry afterwards, especially by the media. the other time i heard such commotion over similar situation is when maradona’s goal over which country?

  • Brittany Cannino

    I have been playing soccer for 15 years now (ever since I was 4 years old). I love playing the game and I also love watching it. However I am also disappointed in FIFA soccer regulations and rules. They seem to take away from the actual meaning of the game. Everything seems to be about how the referees are the ones who decide the outcomes. The games have become more and more biased because Soccer is so competitive and is indeed the number one sport in the world. It’s popularity has created a multitude of greed, deception and bias within FIFA. I also notice in every game that the players continuously fall on the ground and roll over “in pain” in order to get a call so they can have a free kick or penalty or what not. It seems as though spirit and honor are dissipating.

  • Tirath Singh

    I am no pro at soccer, but i know that FIFA’s rules get many soccer players and fans annoyed. Many layers get hurt on purpose so they can get a call on the other team, which is unfair. One way to fix up all the clutter these rules have made is to go over the rules once again.