Video tech should ensure there are no World Cup howlers
The World Cup’s 36 referees have been in Qatar since last Wednesday. They’ve had more than a week of daily training sessions, classroom clinics and, importantly, time to get used to the climate. We all know how hot it is out there, regardless of this tournament being played close to Christmas. FIFA organised 11-v-11 games for the referees so they could acclimatise to the heat. Some were outdoors and some indoors, given there are stadiums with retractable roofs. It’s important to replicate what it will be like on game days for the referees so they know what to expect. They’re in the highestpressure environment possible. The whole world is watching their every move, waiting on their every whistle, debating their every decision. Only four countries have two referees in Qatar — Brazil, France, Argentina and, of course, england. I dropped Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor a message each to wish them well this week. They’ve gone through all the build-up — the fitness tests, the speed sessions, the practice matches — and they’re itching to get going. As are the english assistants, Simon Bennett, Gary Beswick, Stuart Burt and Adam Nunn. All good guys who will do us proud, I’m sure. They’re ready for a fantastic tournament and so are we. In the Premier League, we’ve been aiming to let the games flow and reduce the delaying of the restart. I expect the same at this World Cup. This is football’s biggest stage. We want the ball in play so the world’s best footballers can do what they do.
WITh the advancement of technology, this should be the best officiated World Cup yet. Frank Lampard’s ghost goal against Germany in 2010? Goal-line technology would catch that now. Rudi Voller’s fall in the 1990 final? VAR would scrutinise that challenge by Argentina’s Roberto Sensini now. Carlos Tevez’s opener against Mexico at the 2010 World Cup’s knockout stages? Semi-automated offside technology would flag that now. Diego Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ goal in ’86? Germany goalkeeper harald Schumacher’s foul on France’s Patrick Battiston in ’82? Thanks to video technology, there is no way those would be missed now and that can only be a good thing. The less controversy, the better. Referees want to get their calls correct but it’s nice to know that if anything happens, like those incidents listed above, they’ve got a team of VARs
looking out for them. At this World Cup, each VAR team will be made up of seven people — the VAR, three assistants, and three replay operators. It’s a big operation, all with the purpose of making sure the game is as free-flowing and properly officiated as possible.
VAR’s introduction at the 2018 World Cup was so embraced, it led to its widespread implementation across european football. It will be interesting to see if semi-automated offside technology is as successful. It’s been trialled in the odd FIFA fixture — such as the Super Cup in August, refereed by our own Michael Oliver —– but the 2022
World Cup is going to give viewers a proper chance to see how it works. Without getting too technical, here’s how it should go: cameras strategically placed around the stadiums will track each player’s exact position, while a sensor in the ball will determine the precise moment it’s played. When an offside is detected, an alert will be sent to the VAR team. They will then validate it, tell the on-field officials what’s what and viewers should be shown the image they’ve seen.
My first World Cup memory was ’78: Argentina winning it on home soil and a 10-year-old Mike glued to his television screen! I’ve loved every one since and I’m sure this edition will be as good as the rest.