Video-Refereeing

I just wanted to write a wee quickie regarding the Ireland-France match tonight.

As you may know, I was born in the Republic but have lived most of my life in the North. But, with regards to football allegiance, I often feel very attached to both. Indeed for many years I was more for the Republic, always making my character in a football game Irish instead of Northern Irish, and saying that were I good enough to play at International level, I'd play for the Republic. It's only in the last 2 or 3 years that I've switched my allegiance a bit more to the North. But I really do have a place in my heart for both of them. After all, I do have double-nationality.

So when it came to ROI playing against France in the playoffs for the World Cup, I was fully behind them. So I was gutted tonight when we lost. It was shocking. The bad luck of the deflected goal in Croke Park is one thing, but to be done out of going to the cup because of the type of goal France scored tonight is just downright wrong.

And it makes one think, it cannot be much longer before world football changes its rules. I do not understand why football does not yet have TV-Refereeing! American Football and Cricket both have it, and have done for years. And while one can correctly argue that they are very slow, start-stop games, and therefore it's ok to take a pause to check a replay, this argument falls down on the fact that Rugby also uses a TV Ref, very successfully, and Rugby is arguably a faster sport than football!

It would be so easy, there is already a fourth official there, would it really be so difficult to extend his duties from keeping the managers at bay, checking the subs that come on, and holding up a sign with numbers on it, to also include watching a TV during the match? They already have those little headsets, use them in a good way, for goodness sake!

It's so simple, yet FIFA refuse to bring it in, and constantly teams are being outdone or lose thanks to decisions from referees which, with one quick look at a replay, which takes 10 seconds for goodness sake, could be completely avoided.

So, rant over. I'm gutted that neither Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland will be in South Africa next summer, but I will enjoy the football anyway. Come on ye South Korea! Lol! No, don't know who I'll be going for yet. May Football win! Meaning good, well-played, fair, competitive football, with good performances from the referees!

Love from The Ginger Football Nut!