Top Ref Blunders Technology Could Have Prevented
Oi Ref!!!
You can’t escape technology, it controls everything. We’re quickly becoming its implicit, impassive slaves.
It’s vital for our existence, we depend on it, it watches our every move, it tracks you and knows your slightest whim (you mucky pup, you), soon we’ll be living in an Orwellian nightmare of centralised autocratic control and even the toilet – that last bastion of peace and privacy – will be ruthlessly exposed to our harsh masters, as the cold clanging arm of ‘technology’ grasps the collective neck of the human race and squeezes slowly; humanity gasping desperately for its last dying breath…
Anyway, paranoia over, in the wake of England’s ‘goal’ against Germany, and a catalogue of deplorable referee mistakes, technology is again raising its ugly little head in the football headlines. Its introduction is being highlighted as a long overdue necessity. The story rumbles on. Nevertheless, it seems appropriate, and quite entertaining, to have a look at three recent landmark examples of refereeing blunders that technology could have prevented.
1. Pedro Mendes, the goal that never was:
Tottenham vs. Man United, always an intriguing fixture and this match in 2005 was particularly note-worthy. In a tightly fought contest at Old Trafford, and with the score at 0-0, Mendes let fly a speculative 50-yard shot. It should have been an easy catch for United keeper Roy Carroll, but he flapped and fumbled about – don’t trust him as a babysitter – and somehow contrived to drop the ball behind him, over his own goal line, thus handing Spurs the lead….oh. Indeed, what could have been the start of famous Old Trafford victory was snatched away. The goal was disallowed as linesman Ray Lewis somehow missed the ball landing clearly over the goal-line Video technology = goal.
2. Duisburg v Frankfurt, January 2010:
This one comes courtesy of Germany, and is conversely the reverse to England’s disallowed goal. The game may have been a foregone conclusion – this ‘goal’ making it 5-0 to Duisburg – and it’s not a particularly well-known example, but it’s included here to share a hidden gem, for it’s what the f**k factor and because it’s definitely worth a gander (follow the link above). Lofted from the edge of the area, the ball strikes the bar and evidently bounces out away from goal – and a decent distance too. There’s absolutely no indication that it could be regarded as a goal, yet the referee absurdly decrees that the ball crossed the line (still the Duisburg players mutedly high-five each other)
3. Stuart Atwell gives ‘ghost goal’:
Watford vs. Reading, 2008; a tense Championship tie, and the scene of one of the strangest goals ever given. Reading whipped in a corner, a slight scramble ensued, the ball was knocked back in just off the by-line and eventually cleared away. Phew, end of that, then. Well, it should have been. But linesman Nigel Bannister apparently saw the ball pass the inside of the post despite it being nowhere near, (NOWHERE NEAR!!), and the fact that no players whatsoever appealed for a goal. Atwell duly took the linesman’s word and the ghoulish goal was given.
There we go then; three prime ‘tut-tut’ inducing examples of refereeing blunders that video technology could have prevented.
Your nominations and ‘favourites’…?
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/jonathanellisTT
Related posts
Just watch the WC reruns for the best collection of refereeing disasters in one package. Some of the decisions make those in the EPL look like child’s play. As for the inane comment that “they have no effect on the result” just ask any side pushing forward for a undesereved equaliser vs a a good counterattacking side or any side that has to defend with 10 men for 70 mins at this level. IMO I have NEVER seen any WC series so decided by the”hand of God” where God is the FIFA appointed referee. When you add this to the effect of the new ball, Blatter is a total liar if he says that the eventual winner is the best team as it will either be the luckiest or the chosen team.
Mistake: by “undeserved” above I meant that that the goal conceded was undeserved. You would think that as a supposed adult I could handle English better
One of the political ineptitudes of the WC is that FIFA does NOT use the best referees: they use those referees that each association deems their “best” and that often has nothing to do with refereeing competence as we have seen & sadly, all too often. With matches being so tight at many level, the hand (or whistle) of God decides far too many matches for FIFA to claim that football is honest.