Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderball
You are absolutely right, there is no solution.
Therein lies the problem. The United States was robbed of two points (it looked like both teams were rather grabby in the box, so the goal should have stood). No one was offside, so it can't be that. Lets say the ref is sent home, how does that in any way help the United States? Satisfaction means nothing if they are watching the knockouts at their local pub, even if they beat Algeria, they could get lost in the goal differential/head-to-head shuffle.
Germany is a little less straight forward, but objectively, if Klose wasn't given two straight yellow, and/or Vidic was given a straight red for his hand in the box, how would the game go? We don't know, and that's the problem. The referee became too visible, and enormously impacted the game beyond repair. Win, lose, or draw, that game is tainted.
How does FIFA fix this? There's a couple options, both of which require a rule change.
Option 1: Institute instant replay and coach challenge. If there's a stupid call, send it upstairs.
Option 2: Say FIFA wants to stick with the human aspect of the game, allow Coaches to request a game tape review. If the game is damaged beyond repair due to poor officiating, declare the game void, and order a re-play. I think this is a poor option, but I've heard this idea bandied around.
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Both of those options are absolutely absurd.
Option 1 does nothing for the issues you're complaining of. Fouls are judgment calls, officials aren't going to look at a foul on replay and declare that it didn't happen. The only place that is a benefit is in the case of a blatant dive, I could see that being helpful in that case only. Offsides could benefit from technology, as could decisions on whether or not the ball crossed the line. But fouls? No. Look at any replay system in any sport, you simply can't rely on replay for things that are 100% judgment calls.
Option 2 is just full blown ridiculous. Yes, let's allow games to be replayed because the ref wasn't great. Barring clear evidence of match fixing this idea is a complete non-starter.
I guess we should just limit the world cup to xbox. Problem solved.