Video Ref

Lelive · February 4, 2009

I was watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night and they have a great system where each team gets 3 chances in each match to appeal a decision to the Video Ref. So if your team felt that a penalty was harshly given or not, you could use one of the three appeals to the video ref and if you are correct the decision will be overturned. Also if you are correct the appeal is not counted and you can use it again.

In theory this will mean a team will only appeal a decision if they are sure that they will get the decision overturned, and cut out constant badgering of the refs over every decision. It could possibly also cut out diving as the players will know that not only do they have to fool the Ref but also the video ref who can watch the reply a few times over.

This would have been ideal in the case of Lampards sending off on Sunday, if they had been able to appeal the decision at the time they would heve been at no disadvantage for the remainder of the game. Under the current rules they are still at a disadvangtage for the remainder of the game even though the FA overrulled the decision.

Also with this system above other video refs systems is that you will have minimal stops in the game and all decisions will not have to be reviewed.

The only disadvantage I could see would be for Offside decisions as the play would have stoped.

I'd be interested to hear what others think of this suggestion.

Whitebootman · February 4, 2009

It works in American Football as the game is a series of set pieces which allows time for plays to be reviewed. I can only see challanges being abused in our game, used to break up play or change tactics.

The thing I like about American Football is the number of officials and the communication between officials. I think there is some room for improvement in this area, two extra linesmen for example, and the ref taking more time to consult with his assistants.

There may also be a benefit from the 'sin bin' used in rugby being brought into our game.

coyney · February 4, 2009

Whitebootman said:
It works in American Football as the game is a series of set pieces which allows time for plays to be reviewed. I can only see challanges being abused in our game, used to break up play or change tactics.

The thing I like about American Football is the number of officials and the communication between officials. I think there is some room for improvement in this area, two extra linesmen for example, and the ref taking more time to consult with his assistants.

There may also be a benefit from the 'sin bin' used in rugby being brought into our game.

I like the way the crowd are informed of the reason the foul is given I would have liked to see clattenshite explain away his decisions.