RELIANCE ON HAWK-EYE IS OUTSIDE GAME’S SPIRIT
WITH Hawk-Eye now part of the Championship, I have often wondered how many matches would have been decided a different way if it had been in operation in past years. A couple of big decisions have gone Kilkenny’s way now, between Bubbles O’Dwyer’s free in the 2014 drawn final and Kevin Moran’s shot that was initially waved over last weekend.
People aren’t fully aware that the referee can be instructed that Hawk-Eye wants the shot to be reviewed. On the field, players continually hear that the referee’s decision is final yet, on this occasion, we had the main match official being dictated to by a third party in a live game.
You either interfere with how the referee officiates the game – or you don’t.
A referee decides in the moment whether to book a player or send him off, or award a crucial free. He isn’t told by a third party.
If both umpire and referee are happy with a score, that should be it. To me, it’s a little bit outside the spirit of how games have been conducted.
It also strengthens the argument for the introduction of a Television Match Official.
If Hawk-Eye is there to rule on the legitimacy of scores, then why not allow it to review square ball issues?
Hurling is too spontaneous – so, too, Gaelic football – to be constantly stopped for review like rugby.
Like tennis, managers might be allowed to make a challenge per half. Because technology is having more and more impact on sport.