instant replay needed?

[who 8 all the pies?]

I had thought about the concept of adding instant replays to footie (kinda like the NFL where a coach can dispute a couple of decisions). Going by todays match (manu/arsenal) maybe the fa/fifa need to seriously need the consider it. Although i would hate for footie to become 'american' but i can't see any other solution.

I think the quality of refs is too low for the EPL (why can't they all be like Collina :rolleyes: )

There are bad decisions like today that change the game completely nearly very week!

[yossarian]

I had thought about the concept of adding instant replays to footie (kinda like the NFL where a coach can dispute a couple of decisions). Going by todays match (manu/arsenal) maybe the fa/fifa need to seriously need the consider it. Although i would hate for footie to become 'american' but i can't see any other solution.

I think the quality of refs is too low for the EPL (why can't they all be like Collina :rolleyes: )

There are bad decisions like today that change the game completely nearly very week!

I would be for putting two referees on the pitch before going to any kind of instant replay...and I'm not even really sure I'd be for two refs. I realize that the AR's are supposed to help but in many situations they are still rather far from where incidents occur.

[DjTannerr]

A good argument for not having replays, as said by Tommy Smyth strangely enough, is that if you allowed replays, EVERYONE must have it, in every league, every game, everywhere. And for some places in the world, it would be difficult to do this. It would seem unfair for some leagues/games to benefit from this while others cannot...
and, when would instant replays be done? during the game?... that would slow the game way too much.

[jegerpenge]

A good argument for not having replays, as said by Tommy Smyth strangely enough, is that if you allowed replays, EVERYONE must have it, in every league, every game, everywhere. And for some places in the world, it would be difficult to do this. It would seem unfair for some leagues/games to benefit from this while others cannot...
and, when would instant replays be done? during the game?... that would slow the game way too much.

More than it already is slowed down by the bitching and whining after a penalty call now?

[B Rock]

No instant replay. Period. I'm not a fan of Man Utd. or Arsenal, but both teams have been lucky with some dodgy penalty calls in the past (we all know the history of Pires). Its part of the game, and part of what brings such passion to the game. Should refs continue to do what they can to prevent diving? Yes. Continue to throw cards for dives, preferably reds for particularly disgusting and obvious ones.

But the penalty looked an obvious one at first glance, and there is nothing else you can ask of the ref. Sometimes they get it wrong, but it was clear to me Riley wasn't attempting to give any bias to either team, he called what he saw, and to be honest I think many of us saw the same thing on first glance. Its just one game, the Arse will be back. Some people just need to take a step back.

Beyond that it would simply be impossible, there is no clear defenition of how much contact constitutes a penalty, it is a largely subjective judgement, and with instant replay ANY kind of contact in a box would result in a player going down with the knowledge it will be reviewed and a PK given.

[AjaxGunner]

I don't think replays of any kind are going to be a panacea, but I would prefer that penalty decisions be reviewed after the match, as the FA was supposedly considering. They already use video evidence regarding suspensions for misconduct and can apply it to suspensions for diving.

A to le Bob, he dove ONCE. At least two opposing players (Danny Mills and I forget the other) have praised Henry's fair play in the past for staying on his feet when he had been fouled by them in the penalty area. Arsenal do not dive as a habit.

[Martin Daoust]

I would be for putting two referees on the pitch before going to any kind of instant replay...and I'm not even really sure I'd be for two refs. I realize that the AR's are supposed to help but in many situations they are still rather far from where incidents occur.

Agreed, Yossarian. I have believed this ever since the Cup Final in 2001 where Henchoz got away with a stone hand-ball which I suspect fat old Steve Dunn was too exhausted to be close enough to see and his assistant either ignored it or didn't want to be part of only the second Cup Final sending-off ever. The refs can't keep up with today's players and the assistants primary focus is penalizing off-side players, and too much is missed or in Riley's case, he says he couldn't see it to escape questions about it. But a two-referee system might be worth a try...

[tscboys]

There should never be replays in the game, it would totally ruin the fluency, if ur team is dominating, an obvious foul right outside the box is NOT called...the coach challenges the call or some BS like that, it ruins the fluency ur team had, and then on top of that...u only have a 25% chance of scoring off that free kick...where as in regular play, if ur dominating, ur chances are much better

[Dave_M]

Its a tough one. Obviously we dont want every little knock and tackle studied. The game would be 3 hours, but I think any time a penalty or close range free kick might not be such a bad idea.

I think the problem is a little more simple than that though. Especially in reference to todays game. The ref didnt really muck up. From the angle he was positooned at i woulda given the penalty as well.

We the fans at home have the luxury of studying in slow mo the reverse angle which showed no contact, and rooney took a dive.

HOWEVER

The linesman was in the perfect spot to see this, but a friend of mine seems to think linesmen can no longer disagree with a refs descision, even when they can see something that he coulndt have. This seems a bit bizare to me....but maybe hes wrong on that one?

Maybe its not so bad though. The run had to end sooner or later, and this is about the best way it could happen. For a start if it was Spurs we'd never have heard the end of it, and the fact it happened on a sketchy call means that any Man U fan whos honest with himself knows theres only a limited ammount of gloating he can do....

....and also lets be honest with outrselves here. The unbeaten run would have been over long ago if Pires hadnt done the exact same thing. Such is the nature of the game.

I do wish pundits would stop talking about "earning the penalty". It really annoys me. I also found it ammusing to see Fergison take a leaf out of Wenger's book with his "I didnt see it" comment. Hilarious :)

[Father Ted]

I've said before that decisions like the rooney flop even out over the course of the season. It even did today when cole tripped ronaldo later on in the game. sure it sucks and i too would be complaining if that happened to united but....thats football.

[timberley11]

A good argument for not having replays, as said by Tommy Smyth strangely enough, is that if you allowed replays, EVERYONE must have it, in every league, every game, everywhere. And for some places in the world, it would be difficult to do this.

Are you sure Tommy Smith said this, sounds like it was far to intelligent to come from his mouth? :confused:

[Dave_M]

I've said before that decisions like the rooney flop even out over the course of the season. It even did today when cole tripped ronaldo later on in the game. sure it sucks and i too would be complaining if that happened to united but....thats football.


And to counter that there was a possibility early in the game that maybe we should have had a penalty.

But your right on. Over the long haul luck evens out and generally the best team walks away with the trophy........and on that note:


We are top o' the league, say we are top o' the league :)

[Rick B]

I've said before that decisions like the rooney flop even out over the course of the season. It even did today when cole tripped ronaldo later on in the game. sure it sucks and i too would be complaining if that happened to united but....thats football.

As much as it hurt over todays decision, I agree with this comment. it would destroy the kind of football we all love. I would much rather lose a game down to a bad ref's decision once in a while than have replays. I was going to add that the ref's are only human after all, but then Riley came to mind - and he's just a cnut.

[Val1]

I hate instant replay, and I love American football. I will expect refs to call perfect games when the players play a perfect game. Refs are no better than anyone else.

Having said that, though, I CAN expect the quality of refereeing to get better and for the leagues to try as hard as they can to improve said quality. I've always felt that a second referee would be a good idea, as Yoss has already posted. In the past I've admired the power the soccer ref has as opposed say, to baseball umps who get dirt kicked on them. But since the refs totally ignore the linesmen most of the time, the linesmen are never used to their fullest and we get stuck with these poor caliber calls.

[Mailrenegade]

I think a referee needs to be absolutely positive about a penalty call in a game like United VS Arsenal. Everything is magnified and the ref needs to be 100% sure in order to give the penalty. When I saw the RIO/Freddie incident on replay I thought it could be a foul but I didnt want the game to hinge on a dodgy referee call. I thought it was a good no call. However, after seeing Rooney get the penalty I wanted the penalty on RIO. The most important thing for a referee is to be consistent. Riley was consistently inconsistent. The first part of the match he didnt produce a card for anything.

Replay would definitely help but the logistics would just be a nightmare.

[topcatcole]

I don't like replay, but they do need to give more scrutiny to match officials. Guys like Riley who clearly favor one team need to be disciplined or removed. He is so pro-ManU it isn't even funny. Look at the record. He needs to be disciplined.

Clubs need to grow some when dealing with the FA too. They need to start demanding a higher level of accountability from match officials. Riley lost control of the match today, and yet it is players and possibly coaches and managers who the FA will sanction. Riley's efforts were inexcusable, and he will not be held to account.

Mike Riley

Arsenal 8-9-3
ManU 12-3-4 including today.

Arsenal should do everything in their power to make sure that Riley never calls another game in the EPL again.

[bigfranz]

More than it already is slowed down by the bitching and whining after a penalty call now?
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I dont think this is the trust of the argument. If it is not available on a world wide basis it is not a fair . Everyteam must be able to use it or then no team can use it.
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Are you sure Tommy Smith said this, sounds like it was far to intelligent to come from his mouth?
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You would sound far more intelligent if you at least got the guys name correct. Its just a little item but it drives me crazy that all you guys with the super intelligance cant get the names right. Its Smyth not Smith.

[Bluto11]

I say no to the replay. The human factor is ok with me.


As I watched the replay of Rooney's "fall" I seem to remember a fall that RP made against Pompey last year that led to our equaliser.

[Bluto11]

I don't like replay, but they do need to give more scrutiny to match officials. Guys like Riley who clearly favor one team need to be disciplined or removed. He is so pro-ManU it isn't even funny. Look at the record. He needs to be disciplined.

Clubs need to grow some when dealing with the FA too. They need to start demanding a higher level of accountability from match officials. Riley lost control of the match today, and yet it is players and possibly coaches and managers who the FA will sanction. Riley's efforts were inexcusable, and he will not be held to account.

Mike Riley

Arsenal 8-9-3
ManU 12-3-4 including today.

Arsenal should do everything in their power to make sure that Riley never calls another game in the EPL again.
looking at the stats I agree with you, but who did Arsenal and Utd play when Riley was the ref? If Utd was playing Leicester and they got a win then that really does not show a pro-Utd bias. If Utd's wins were ther result of presents (as RvN so elloquenty put it) then I can see a bias.


Mark Riley is like Hugh Hollins when the Bulls would play the Knicks

[surfcam]

I hate instant replay, and I love American football. I will expect refs to call perfect games when the players play a perfect game. Refs are no better than anyone else.

Having said that, though, I CAN expect the quality of refereeing to get better and for the leagues to try as hard as they can to improve said quality. I've always felt that a second referee would be a good idea, as Yoss has already posted. In the past I've admired the power the soccer ref has as opposed say, to baseball umps who get dirt kicked on them. But since the refs totally ignore the linesmen most of the time, the linesmen are never used to their fullest and we get stuck with these poor caliber calls.


No replay, but I agree more attention should be paid to linesmen. To take your baseball refernce, umps now are meeting to discuss disputed calls, and they listen to the one who had the best angle or view. Before, whoever made the call overrulled all the others, even if they had a better view. The new system worked well in the ALCS. So lets transfer this strategy to footie, and raise the caliber of the refs.