5 Refs in Europa League

[Piijt]

Uefa is to experiment during the group stages with having five referees per match in an attempt to combat players' diving to win penalties and to help resolve other issues. Two extra officials will stand next to each goal, behind the dead-ball line, to spot infringements and Uefa hopes the move will mean less foul play and simulation by players.
The move is also designed to help determine whether the ball has crossed the goal-line when there is doubt.
Uefa president Michel Platini said: "One day players will give up simulating because referees will see them.
"For years players have cheated because the referees were not of a good enough quality.
"I am convinced, with the extra officials, that if you have referees close by it will prevent players from simulating and they will take the right decision.
"I have always said it is better to have more referees than a multiplication of disciplinary procedures or to refer to videos during matches."

 

[FC Brugge]

Two more refs behind the goal. Two more at each side, one running about, and one between the dug-outs showing extra time and whatnot. Doesn't that make 6?...

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Why don't they simply use video technology? Any major decision that the ref isn't sure on, such as a penalty or goal, they refer to the 'video ref' and a decision is made. It's used in rugby, tennis and cricket so why not football? No doubt an argument will be made that it will disrupt the flow of the game, but surely no more so than the regular remonstrations with the ref after every contentious decision.

 

[bluebastardo]

What is wrong with the minds of these people?
Technology is the only way forward.

 

[Goat]

They want the Human element, clearly they enjoy countless mistakes.

 

[Richard Parker]

If they watched the tapes after the matches and retrospectively fined players for diving they'd eliminate it. If Eduardo got a 1 match ban & a £20,000 fine every time he dived, he'd soon learn not to. If he kept doing it, deduct points from the club. This is another limp-wristed effort by UEFA to tackle the problem. Why aren't they experimenting on the Champions' league? They don't want to upset the 'big' clubs. A video replay for goal/no goal decisions would take about 10 seconds. Ridiculous.

 

[heatmeiser]

Why don't they simply use video technology? Any major decision that the ref isn't sure on, such as a penalty or goal, they refer to the 'video ref' and a decision is made. It's used in rugby, tennis and cricket so why not football? No doubt an argument will be made that it will disrupt the flow of the game, but surely no more so than the regular remonstrations with the ref after every contentious decision.

They are loathe to do this because they want the rules to be possible at 'grass roots' level.

If you can't do it on the village green on a Sunday, they probably won't do it.

Though everyone knows it's hard enough trying to get one ref for a game, never mind half a dozen.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I can understand their reasoning about the Sunday league matches but it's not really the same is it? I mean games in the professional ranks have big money resting on them. I didn't see the tennis bods saying hawkeye couldn't be used because it wouldn't be available at your local club and I doubt its in use at your local village cricket match either.

 

[heatmeiser]

It's not the same, they're just being stubborn.

There's a bit more money riding on top flight football, surely it deserves all the technology we can throw at it?

Maybe in 10 years time, when all the old farts have 'moved on' we can have progress.