Another example of why television technology is needed in football
Howard Webb’s decision to award Manchester United a penalty in Saturday’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur has led to calls for the introduction of technology in the game to be rapidly stepped up.
The decision was made based on an apparent foul by Spurs goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, on Michael Carrick when TV replays after the incident showed that Gomes had clearly touched the ball.
Subsequently the penalty was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo and from 2-0 down United went on to win the game at a canter. Since the event Webb has come out publicly in the media and admitted he got the decision wrong.
He said: “I have looked at it again and I think it was a mistake but we make these decisions honestly. It’s not always easy to see the way the play pans out from pitch level.”
Webb’s mistake prompted fury on the Spurs match as manager, Harry Redknapp, said the incident changed the entire face of the game. He later called for the 4th official on the sidelines to be paying particular attention to TV monitors around him and being in constant touch with the referee on field.
Redknapp said after the game: “The referee made a terrible mistake. You should have technology. The fourth official should be watching the TV monitor and talking to the referee.”
Redknapp’s cries of outrage have once again opened up the debate on the use of technology in the modern game. For the last few years the demand for goal line technology to decipher whether or not a ball has crossed the line has been high.
Especially after ‘Reading’s Phantom Goal’ when referee, Stuart Atwell, awarded the Royals a goal in their Premier League fixture against Watford, despite the ball having flown yards wide.
Technology in football will happen at some point. The problem is it is a painfully slow process for all involved. It took years for referees and linesman just to be allowed microphone technology to be able to talk to each other without having to run from one end of the pitch to the other.
It is baffling why football seems so reluctant to let the help of technology seep into the modern game. Everyone wants to see fairer and more accurate games. None of the entertainment or excitement value will be lost by allowing its introduction to the sport.
Only when it is introduced, and mirrors the examples of other sports such as cricket, tennis and rugby, will we see fairer and more correct decision being made. The decision on Sunday could have been remedied in a matter of seconds and everyone would have been satisfied that the right out come had been made.
High profile managers sitting in the stands are allowed small monitors in front of them at most games so why not the 4th official?
This is clearly something the FA have to investigate. If they do not then sooner or later it could be the fine dividing line between a club going up to the Premier League or being relegated from League football entirely.
