Referee's and technology

[rickyp]

Before I start, this is in no way slaming referee's, im one of the few people that actually think that they are doing there best.

After watching the Lucas Neill decision in the Australia Italy match, I was thinking the reasons as to why the ref might have paid it. It came to mind how close it was to the end of the match, 3 seconds i believe. Now correct me if im wrong, but the referee would of been looking down at that watch at some point within 10 seconds of that point.

Now i was wondering, could the referee have glanced his watch, looked up and neill is in a slide tackle position with the Italian guy falling over him?

It would make a lot of sense if he did because he would of missed the bit where Neill didnt touch him. Making it a definite penalty

TBH i know very little about soccer, but this thought came to mind just a short while ago and I was wondering if some of the soccer nuts here could just let me know if it was possible, and also, why FIFA havent taken the technological step towards a siren or something along the lines of that.

[sid_19840]

The main reason why FIFA are hesitant in technology is because they fear that it may delay the game too much,as football is a free flowing game unlike some other sports which have taken the technology route.My take on this would be to use technology for only goal line decisions to start with and then see how it goes.

[rickyp]

but what about technology with the timekeeping? its not going to slow down the game at all.

[Brett_Lee]

Originally Posted by sid_19840

The main reason why FIFA are hesitant in technology is because they fear that it may delay the game too much,as football is a free flowing game unlike some other sports which have taken the technology route.My take on this would be to use technology for only goal line decisions to start with and then see how it goes.

Yeah i agree. I was thinking about this the other day and then i thought. It would take up to much time. they cant keep stopping the clock in soccer say like they do in Rugby League. as much as a video referee would help the game and might have allowed australia to flow through. They cant keep stopping time. But rickyp I agree on With the not looking at the game. and i agree with the timekeeping about that maybe the referee should have watched that shot or that the timekeeper should have talked to the referee via the microphones.

[Kev]

I would guess that at least one of the ref's watches would be one with a 45min countdown on it anyway. You can buy them in Argos quite cheaply (For those who dont know Argos is a big store where you buy tat out of a catalogue). So he shouldnt need to keep checking anyway.
The reason there is no countdown siren though is that it is up to the ref to add on as much time as he feels is needed. I know they hold up a board with the amount of extra time on it but this is a minimum, the ref can add more if he feels its needed.