More goal technology needed

 

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The FIFA World Cup 2014 witnessed a moment of clear injustice early in its second match on Friday, June 13th. Around the 30-minute mark, with the score still 0-0 between Mexico and Cameroon, Giovanni dos Santos had his second goal disallowed for offside. Replays, however, unequivocally showed the assistant referee's flag was raised in error.

Understandably frustrated, the diminutive Mexican forward, clad in his green jersey, shook his head and punched the air before directing a series of insults towards the official.

This incident wasn't isolated. Several glaring refereeing mistakes during the 2014 World Cup ignited a strong demand for greater use of television replays in top-tier matches. However, the body responsible for football's laws, a historically conservative British group, has traditionally resisted such changes, aiming to preserve the "beautiful game" in its traditional form.

The need for technology to assist referees is evident. Incorrect offside calls, wrongly awarded penalties, and unwarranted yellow or red cards can drastically alter the course of a game. Such errors can cost teams medals, glory, and millions of euros. Consequently, a significant portion of the footballing world now advocates for video assistance. The World Cup in Brazil marked a small step forward, introducing goal-line technology to resolve disputes where the naked eye couldn't definitively determine if the ball had crossed the line.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter, despite past opposition, has expressed openness to incorporating more video technology. Speaking at a FIFA congress before the 2014 World Cup, he stated, "Today we have numerous TV cameras at matches – up to 34 – making incidents clear. Why not give each manager two opportunities to challenge a referee's decision during a match and request a TV review if they disagree?"

The primary obstacle to broader technological integration has been the International Football Association Board (IFAB), an age-old organization often referred to as the "guardians of the laws." Predominantly composed of British members, IFAB has historically been wary of altering the game's fundamental rules.

The roots of these rules trace back to 1863, when The Football Association (FA) was founded at the Freemasons Tavern, and the sport's first 13 official rules were established. As the game spread across Great Britain, variations in rules emerged in Scotland, Ireland, and England, creating a need for standardization.

The pivotal moment arrived 128 years ago, on Wednesday, June 2nd, 1886, at 51 Holborn Viaduct, just north of the Thames. The English FA, having moved its headquarters there the previous year, hosted a meeting convened by Chairman Sir Francis Marindin. He invited representatives from the Scottish, Welsh, and Irish football associations to discuss the future of the sport, and it was here that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) was born.

Each association sent two delegates, passionate about football and united in the desire for a supreme body to safeguard the integrity of the game. They established themselves as the guardians of football, believing that the simplicity and easy understanding of the rules were key to its appeal and should be maintained. IFAB decided that all rule changes would require unanimous agreement among its eight delegates.

As the 20th century began, minor adjustments were made to enhance the game. In 1913, at a FIFA congress in Copenhagen, it was agreed that the 24 member associations of the world football governing body should have representation in IFAB, receiving two delegates each, mirroring the British nations. IFAB's voting system was also modified, requiring eight out of ten votes for a rule change.

By 1958, FIFA's influence within IFAB grew to four delegates, while each of the British associations retained one. A 75% majority vote became necessary to alter the laws of the game.

While any of FIFA's 209 member associations can propose rule changes, the ultimate authority to validate them rests with IFAB. Often, IFAB's decisions involve seemingly minor details such as logos on corner flags, permitted colors for thermal undergarments, or the banning of pitch-side advertising.

Over its 128-year history, IFAB has overseen significant changes, but these have typically followed thorough debate and extensive testing, aimed at ensuring the beautiful game evolves smoothly and positively. The recent introduction of goal-line technology represents a notable shift in the traditional absolute authority of the referee.

The decision to implement technology to determine if the ball had crossed the goal line followed years of discussion, spurred by instances where teams were unfairly denied goals in major tournaments. A particularly prominent case involved England's Frank Lampard at the 2010 World Cup against Germany. His shot clearly crossed the line with the score at 2-1, but the referee missed it, the goal was disallowed, and England eventually lost 4-1. Following this and other similar incidents, IFAB initiated various experiments and trials before finally approving goal-line technology in 2012, with its debut at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

It is precisely these kinds of controversial situations that fuel the demand for further action.

However, not everyone is convinced. Alex Horne, an English member of IFAB and the FA secretary, cautioned, "I am not a fan of introducing something that interrupts the flow of the game. There is a demand for more discussions, but one should never underestimate the power of circumstances. If a lot of mistakes are made during the World Cup, then this suggestion could really gain momentum."