[Juliet]

whoa.. 2-1 in the last seconds..

[Nathan Hunter]

2 -1.

I can't believe we stopped playing in the second half. We played as if it was 6-0 already and it was sure we would go through.

Still, that's the eighth win in a row for us and the 23rd game we play without losing, so all is well.

[Rachel Cafferty]

Yeah missed most of the 2nd half i fell asleep :snoring:

Gullit on ESPN reckons the plan is to lull the opposition into sleep. Well I'm off to bed. Don't want to miss the next one but I have to work.

[XPidgex Jefferson]

The Dutch were on cruise control and still beat the Slovaks who were in overdrive. Outstanding.

[Alex Blacke]

The Dutch have a great offensive, but I have the impression their defence could use some improvement. Still, they won and that's what matter most.

[J.P loves]

That penalty kick wasn't really necessary... The guy just purposely stuck his leg in front of Stekelenburg's arm.

But aside from the last 30 seconds, great game! :celebration:

[sas]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5335440/ce/us/fifa-censor-stadium-replays?cc=5901&ver=us

What do you all think about this? To me it seems that FIFA is trying to do everything possible to avoid the latest officiating issues.

[leni]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5335440/ce/us/fifa-censor-stadium-replays?cc=5901&ver=us

What do you all think about this? To me it seems that FIFA is trying to do everything possible to avoid the latest officiating issues.

Hurry, we'll act like it never happened!

You've got to be kidding me...

[Zach Hunter]

Hurry, we'll act like it never happened!

You've got to be kidding me...

Exactly. Someone made an argument in the comments on that article that a lot of the football countries can't afford the tech needed for replays. What the hell does that have to do with the WC? Any FIFA tourney designed to qualify for the WC, and the WC itself should implement the replay for officials. And FIFA's response a couple of months ago that a human still makes the decision is ludicrous. Humans still make the call in the NFL, and the replay has been responded to by really positive reviews. That's why it's still there. Chris Fowler said last night on ESPN that if you can give that person a better educated, informed decision, then the better off you are. I agree. Yes, the official or replay official still makes the call, but they have the ability to make a better one. It's common sense when you think about it.

That's the end of my rant.

[Allison Sizemore]

Pretty soon football will only be about who can act like they scored a goal the most convincingly. Perhaps England should ditch Capello and hire Spielberg? :laugh:

[Sabrina Schwarz]

Exactly. Someone made an argument in the comments on that article that a lot of the football countries can't afford the tech needed for replays. What the hell does that have to do with the WC? Any FIFA tourney designed to qualify for the WC, and the WC itself should implement the replay for officials.

Yeah, that's just a pretty sad attempt at an excuse. This is supposed to be the pinnacle of soccer, an example to the world or whatever, so why not set a good example even if poorer countries cannot implement the technology yet. FIFA sets a pretty bad example. Besides, at an event this large, replay should be a shoe-in.

And FIFA's response a couple of months ago that a human still makes the decision is ludicrous. Humans still make the call in the NFL, and the replay has been responded to by really positive reviews. That's why it's still there. Chris Fowler said last night on ESPN that if you can give that person a better educated, informed decision, then the better off you are. I agree. Yes, the official or replay official still makes the call, but they have the ability to make a better one. It's common sense when you think about it.

I have to give the refs a break here, from their positioning there is probably no way they can tell the angle the ball comes off the crossbar and bounces off the ground. Sure, the linesmans needs to be in a better position, but nobody can expect him to be there 100% of the time, but replay can be close to 100% accurate, which is what the end goal should be right?

To let the physical limitations of the refs possibly decide matches is ridiculous.

[pinar]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5335440/ce/us/fifa-censor-stadium-replays?cc=5901&ver=us

hiding the evidence are we?

[Kelvin]

Yeah, that's just a pretty sad attempt at an excuse. This is supposed to be the pinnacle of soccer, an example to the world or whatever, so why not set a good example even if poorer countries cannot implement the technology yet. FIFA sets a pretty bad example. Besides, at an event this large, replay should be a shoe-in.


I have to give the refs a break here, from their positioning there is probably no way they can tell the angle the ball comes off the crossbar and bounces off the ground. Sure, the linesmans needs to be in a better position, but nobody can expect him to be there 100% of the time, but replay can be close to 100% accurate, which is what the end goal should be right?

To let the physical limitations of the refs possibly decide matches is ridiculous.

I wasn't faulting the refs, making a split second decision based on a split second event is a hard thing to do. That's why giving them something to do their job better and easier should be implemented.

[Bones47]

I obviously agree with the need for some sort of additional refereeing aid. I'm not too sure about video replays though, they'd have to be used conservatively if they were to become widely used. I can't do with the breaks that it'd make necessary during the match.

I wouldn't mind the employment of referees assistants around the penalty box at each end (This is where the majority of the controversy stems from) that can help the referee when he's out of position or his sight is blocked. They used it in this years Europa league as a sort of pilot, not sure how it went down though. :shrug:

[CArlos BArrera]

The refs in the box were pretty much useless in the games I saw in the Europa League. They occasionally switched a corner to a goal kick and vice-versa but nothing more. I didn't see any goal line incidents they could check on though which means that there main use was untested. I still think it'd be easier and cheaper to just use replays.

[Jonathan Montero]

The refs in the box were pretty much useless in the games I saw in the Europa League. They occasionally switched a corner to a goal kick and vice-versa but nothing more. I didn't see any goal line incidents they could check on though which means that there main use was untested. I still think it'd be easier and cheaper to just use replays.

Well, to be frank I don't really give a [censored] about the finances of FIFA, UEFA etc... I just want to enjoy the game. If the replays were just used in absolutely crucial areas of the game, such as the scoring of a goal or goal line incident, then that's fine. I don't want every tackle and throw in decision to be disputed and given to the video referee, that would become very tedious, very quickly.

[Travis]

I don't want every tackle and throw in decision to be disputed and given to the video referee, that would become very tedious, very quickly.

I don't think I've seen anyone ask for that. :shrug:

[Lauren Denman]

Well, to be frank I don't really give a [censored] about the finances of FIFA, UEFA etc... I just want to enjoy the game. If the replays were just used in absolutely crucial areas of the game, such as the scoring of a goal or goal line incident, then that's fine. I don't want every tackle and throw in decision to be disputed and given to the video referee, that would become very tedious, very quickly.

Agreed on both accounts. It should only be goal decisions and maybe red-cards that are replayed because often by the end of that process the replay has already been shown 2 or 3 times.

[Solène We]

The replay argument is solely for goal and goal line situations. Nothing more. There's no reason to take another look at a dive or penalty. If that was the case, the game would last four hours and possibly never end.

[Stacey Mason]

The replay argument is solely for goal and goal line situations. Nothing more. There's no reason to take another look at a dive or penalty. If that was the case, the game would last four hours and possibly never end.

Agreed.

[Nice one]

The replay argument is solely for goal and goal line situations. Nothing more. There's no reason to take another look at a dive or penalty. If that was the case, the game would last four hours and possibly never end.

A similar system is already in place in international rugby union matches, and has only improved the game. I don't see why it couldn't apply to football just as easily.

[Hannah Barnard]

HUP HOLLAND HUP!

[Rozlyn Robinson]

I don't think I've seen anyone ask for that. :shrug:

It's a perfectly feasible scenario.

Use it for one kind of decision and at a risk of failing at their job/fan pressure/laziness/nervousness referees could easily resort to using it for more frivolous decisions. Fans will constantly harp on about a replay for a foul that would have resulted in a red card decision, it becomes to difficult to decide when and when not to use it in a manner that it will actually enhance the game.

To be fair you're grossly over simplifying it. :shrug: Hell, if it were as easy as everyone makes it sound then FIFA would do it. If they believed it would make the game fairer and it could easily be done they they'd do it. They're not actually a sinister force of death and evil.

[Lily]

It's a perfectly feasible scenario.

Use it for one kind of decision and at a risk of failing at their job/fan pressure/laziness/nervousness referees could easily resort to using it for more frivolous decisions. Fans will constantly harp on about a replay for a foul that would have resulted in a red card decision, it becomes to difficult to decide when and when not to use it in a manner that it will actually enhance the game.

To be fair you're grossly over simplifying it. :shrug:

They already use a television match official in rugby union, and he only provides input on decisions the referee couldn't possibly have seen himself. The referee can ignore him at will, and usually does - it's only used for tries where it's near impossible to see the ball. Penalties and the like are still down to the linesmen and referee, they just have another tool to use to make the right call. Like I said, it has only improved the game for rugby union. But hey, if football wants to stay in the dark ages that's FIFA's business, I guess...

[Connie Thomas]

They already use a television match official in rugby union, and he only provides input on decisions the referee couldn't possibly have seen himself. The referee can ignore him at will, and usually does - it's only used for tries where it's near impossible to see the ball. Penalties and the like are still down to the linesmen and referee - it's just another tool to use to make the right call. Like I said, it has only improved the game. But hey, if football want to stay in the dark ages that's FIFA's business, I guess...

Nah, I'm all for making the game fairer. I just think you really have to draw the line as to where it can be used with this technology and even when you do, people will still be pissed off that you didn't use a video replay to look at something that they feel the referee got wrong.