Dark ages are over Fifa, use technology

FIRST, I must say I’m not particularly a football supporter, although I do follow most of the sports that we South Africans are interested in, so I do have a little insight into rules.

Butwhat leaves me flabbergasted is how far behind other sports codes Fifa (the international governing body of soccer), seems to be.

Football is the most-watched sport in the world, yet they still insist on living in the dark ages, refusing to use the latest technology.

We know they are experimenting with goal line cameras, but I watched the Chelsea/Liverpool game on Sunday evening and there were two incidents where the input of a “third referee” would have resulted in a completely different outcome. Both decisions would probably have been in favour of Chelsea.

The first – early in the game – may be debatable, although if you foul a player anywhere in the penalty box, you should concede a penalty.

There was a clear tripping of a Chelsea player in the penalty area, and then, a short while later, the Arsenal goalkeeper blatantly pushed a Chelsea attacker in the box after his shot at goal was made – a foul after the fact, but nevertheless a foul, and in the penalty box.

Both incidents were deserving of penalties for Chelsea, and if the referee had TV technology, as do most major sports these days, Chelsea could have been sitting pretty.

But no, Fifa in all their arrogant wisdom, refuse to move with the times. As for pushing, touching and trying to intimidate the referee, and diving for no reason, (a camera and a third referee would reveal all), that’s another story altogether and absolutely pathetic – if I was the referee, I would need more red cards and after the first 15 minutes, there would be considerably less players on the field than the starting 22.

I have turned the TV on to a different channel and another sport. At least in Indian Premier League Cricket there are TV referrals.

LAWRIE STEWART

Glenashley.

LONDON: Arsenal’s hopes of catching Manchester City for second place in the Premier League suffered a setback after a late Bafetimbi Gomis header – verified by goalline technology – handed Swansea City a 1-0 win at the Emirates last night.

Substitute Gomis struck five minutes from time, meeting Jefferson Montero’s cross with a header that crossed the line before it was scooped out by keeper David Ospina, the goal confirmed almost immediately to the referee.

Arsenal, who have three matches to play, remain on 70 points, three behind City who have two games left and are in pole position for automatic entry to next season’s Champions League group stage.

Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski frustrated his former side, the Poland international making several good saves in the second half to thwart the home side.

It took almost an hour for tepid Arsenal to muster their first shot on target with Olivier Giroud shooting straight at Fabianski.

Arsenal pressed forward with greater urgency in the second half and Fabianski denied Alexis Sanchez and then Theo Walcott with a fine double save. – Reuters