WAS THIS THE FINAL STRAW?
Players now begging for technology
AT The Premier League’s studio 20 miles from Vicarage Road, the officials in the television gallery suite must have been sitting with heads in hands, helpless.
From this Stockley Park hub close to heathrow, footage of refereeing decisions is reviewed for the purpose of the video referee trial that will continue in the FA Cup tomorrow night.
But on Saturday the footage from Watford v Southampton rolled in with nothing those watching the replays could do but groan at the most ludicrous goal of this Premier League season.
Abdoulaye Doucoure salvaged a point for Watford with a 90thminute equaliser, punching the ball in with a hand after his head failed to make sufficient contact.
every Southampton player could see it, the Saints bench could see it from afar — even Doucoure looked sheepish in celebration. every eye around the ground was on the officials.
But referee Roger east and assistant Derek eaton failed to spot it and, without video as a safety net, injustice was served.
Technology or no technology, this was a decision the officials should have got right. east was in a good position and eaton had the vantage point across the line.
Southampton captain Steven Davis has been one of those reluctant to embrace technology. But after he suffered an incorrect penalty call in Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off against Switzerland, and now this, he has changed his mind.
‘I was never a great advocate of technology in football — but I had never needed to argue for it before a decision took away the chance of a small nation to qualify for the World Cup,’ Davis said.
‘Now I’ve had another taste on the wrong end. We don’t know how important this incident will prove to be.’
Southampton know the two points lost here, a 10th Premier League game in a row they have failed to win, have huge value. It will cost the club around £65million if they go down.
‘Referees have a difficult job, but when it comes to games of magnitude like these, you need decisions to go your way,’ Davis said.
Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino, credit to him, said Premier League referees were largely good. Opposite number Marco Silva was more cynical, having seen regular mistakes most weeks. It overshadowed - a great game, where e Southampton’s excellent counterattacking - resulted in James Ward- Prowse scoring two goals in the e first half, before substitute Troy y Deeney brought about Andre e Gray’s strike and then the controversial equaliser at the death.
Teething problems have shown the game cannot simply rely on video referees, but the debate over the lack of it will continue as long as mistakes keep happening.
No english referees will be at the World Cup this summer for the first time in post-war history. The standard isn’t what it was.
help is clearly needed for a group of officials prone to errors.
WATFORD (4-3-3): Gomes 6; Janmaat 6.5, Wague 5, Kabasele 4.5, Zeegelaar 4.5; Doucoure 7, Cleverley 5.5 (Pereyra 35min,