CBC-Sports

Time to bring in video replay, with a condition

November 19, 2009 10:57 AM | Posted by   Jason de Vos  

Scandalous. Absolutely scandalous.

That is the only way to describe the goal that clinched a berth in the World Cup for France on Wednesday night in the Stade de France in Paris.

Thierry Henry blatantly controlled the ball with his hand prior to setting up William Gallas to nod home the deciding goal in France’s 1-1 draw with Ireland. The result gave France a 2-1 aggregate win, thus clinching a place for Les Bleus in South Africa 2010.

Is it not time for us to finally implement the use of video replays?

There will be some who question the integrity of Henry for using his hand to control the ball, and perhaps he should have shown more honesty on the play.

However, it is hard to be too critical of the Frenchman for doing what just about every other player would have done if put in the same situation.

Players will maximize their advantage in just about every situation if given the chance. I’m not saying that it is right, but that is the truth.

Others will be hesitant to introduce technology into the game for fear that it will open up Pandora’s Box. Where does the influence of technology end, and how do you ensure that replays do not interrupt the flow of the game?

Add a fifth official

If the decision were mine, I would introduce a fifth official. He or she would have the responsibility of viewing the match on a monitor that can instantly replay the game from any of the angles captured on camera.

That official would be able to determine if a goal was or was not legitimate within seconds. That official could then contact the referee via headset to indicate whether or not the goal should stand.

That is the extent to which I would use technology, and if that were the case, it would have little or no impact on the flow of the game.

It only takes a few seconds to make a decision with the benefit of video replay, and that technology should only be used to determine if a goal that is scored is done so according to the laws of the game.

I’m not advocating that video technology should replace the judgment of the officials. However, it should assist them in making error-free decisions on those matters that determine the outcome of games – goals.

If this system were in place in Paris, perhaps I’d be writing about the brave performance of the underdog Irish team rather than the fraudulent victory of the French.

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