In a frustrating game at Anfield yesterday, Liverpool were
unable to get a goal past a strong Bolton
defence despite creating a multitude of half-chances. The reds would surely
have come out victors and avoided a replay had the referee not utterly bottled
two decisions: Bolton’s Mills – who had
already been booked - should have seen red early in the second half for
bringing Markovic down as he was running through on goal (Kevin Friend judged
that no offence had been committed), and the hosts probably deserved a penalty
late on after ex-Liverpool man Jay Spearing knocked Henderson to the ground,
making no attempt to play the ball. These two key incidents beg the question of
whether it’s time to introduce video technology to football to aid officials.
Barely a game goes by anymore where the referee doesn’t make a blatantly
incorrect decision; video replays have proved successful in other sports (admittedly largely for line-based rather than contact-based decisions), and I think it’s time to throw tradition out of the
window and introduce them to football.
In a lot of cases, bad calls by officials prove
inconsequential. However, in tight games such as the one we witnessed
yesterday, they can make all the difference. Credit should be given to Bolton –
they were very well drilled at the back, and were able to find a good balance
between occasionally creating chances going forward and making sure they had
enough men behind the ball when Liverpool came
at them. As such, despite the wealth of possession and the nice intricate
passing, Rodgers’s side simply couldn’t work a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Had their opponents been reduced to ten men, the task of getting a goal would
obviously have been made easier. On watching the replay of the Mills incident,
it is impossible to deny that he tripped Markovic and consequently should have
been off, either courtesy of a second yellow or a straight red. Had the referee
been able to call upon a video referee for assistance, justice would have been
served and Liverpool would probably not be facing the prospect of an
energy-draining trip to Bolton that could
prove detrimental to performance in the league and, consequently, the push for
the top 4. As it was, terrified of making a big call without being 100%
certain, Friend didn’t even give a free kick. The same was true of the penalty
incident – the ramifications of potentially making an incorrect decision (and,
partially, a subconscious desire to help the underdogs) prompted Friend not to
point to the spot. At any level of refereeing this is poor – at the top of the
game, it is frankly unacceptable.
Video replays seem like the simple solution. But just how
simple a solution would it be? A whole new set of rules would have to be
created. Is it the referee who decides when to consult the video ref, or can
teams demand it? If it is up to the teams, how many times can they appeal per
match? Would it be the manager or the captain who decides whether to appeal?
There are definitely logistics to consider which many people overlook when
demanding video technology. However, in my view, it is worth the effort it
would take to implement it. I am sure that I’m not alone in being totally fed
up of watching my team get penalised for the incompetence of a highly paid
referee – far from ruining the game, video tech would allow results to be
dictated by the standard of play rather than the standard of officials.
Of course, while the introduction of video referees to the
game would solve the problems witnessed in yesterday’s clash with Bolton , it wouldn’t totally fix the problem of poor
decisions from officials. This is because it would not be applicable to offside
decisions – if an offside call was appealed and overturned, play couldn’t
simply be reset to the exact position it was in before the flag went up. It was
an incorrect offside decision that cost us so dearly last season – while the
Gerrard slip and the Palace capitulation will be what people remember as the
reasons why we failed to win the title, I maintain that the true reason can be
traced back to our away game at City around Christmas time. 1-0 up and in
control, Liverpool looked certain to double
their lead and all but kill the game as Raheem Sterling sprinted through on
goal. However, the flag inexplicably went up; Kompany went on to equalise just
minutes later before Negredo scored the winner on the stroke of half time. On
such things titles are won and lost, and the fact that video refereeing could
not rectify this flaw in the sport means that it isn’t a perfect solution.
That said, it’s the best solution available, and we should
be embracing it. Now we have the technology to help officials make the right
call, not using it simply because it might take some time and thought to
implement is preposterous. To paraphrase
the ever-wise Joey Tribbiani, a blind man doesn’t walk around with his eyes
closed when he gets his sight back. The game has got its ‘sight’: it’s time to
start using it.
-James Martin
Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013
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