Blatter's fancy bladder

It added: 'FIFA's intention is to conduct two trials at the Club World Cup in Japan: the first relating to goal-line technology with a new trial of the Adidas and Cairos chip-in-ball technology, and the second to the use of two additional assistant referees during matches.'

It's about time on the chip-in-ball.  If ever there's a case for technology in sport this is it.  If Hicks disagrees with me on this I'm gonna smash his little rangefinder to bits.   

Not too sure about the four AR thing.  I don't see it helping on offside calls.  These guys at this level generally have it dead right so they'll usually agree.  If they disagree what's the center ref going to do?  The other possibility is to help on away-from-the-ball fouls.  Dunno.

Maybe they're there to help Graham Poll keep track of yellow cards.   

I have to disagree with the technology intrusion into sport. Even the instant replay. To me, part of sport is the human element. I understand the frustration with blown calls, been on the wrong side my share, but I still think it's part of the game.

I have thought a dual center referee system AND 2 AR's is a long time coming. The game is so fast there is no way a center can keep up.

(and for the record, I don't use a range finder either)

Steggie, I tend to agree with you re: technology in general.  However, in a sport where matches routinely finish with less than a handful of goals it's absolutely HUGE when one is incorrectly allowed/disallowed.  I don't want technology anywhere else but between those posts.  Hell, I'd be satisfied with IR from a goal line cam.  That would help.

I guess I have another sorta technology want.  I'd like to see dirty foulers/divers dealt post-match suspensions based on video from the match.

Dual center refs is a good idea in theory and at the top levels of the sport.  However, there's a shortage of good SINGLE center refs at many of the lower levels.  It'll be a problem finding qualified personnel for most of us.  One good center ref with two marginally qualified parents/spectators is better than two clueless centers.  FWIW, at the junior level I see plenty of dual center refs with zero ARs.  That's not a good solution at all.  The center refs can't do their regular job and still have a firm handle on the offside flag.  Can't be done.

Four ARs doesn't do anything for me at all.  Overkill.  I'll let myself be persuaded though if someone has a good argument or two.

I knew you'd come around.   

Or was that code?   

http://soccernet.espn.go....rce=soccernet&cc=5901


Incompetent wankers.  These two make George Bush and *8==>* Cheney look like leaders of the century.

Can't wait to see goalline ARs blowing calls and TV later proving them wrong.  I'd put my trust in technology (in this one case re: football) over the eyes of guys 50 yards away.  Disallowing good goals and allowing bad goals is the one thing that can't go wrong in soccer.  It's at the core of the game (thank you Capt. Obvious.)

An Irish drunk as read by a northern drunk - something was bound to get missed.


Disallowing a 'good goal' - the ball went over the line, should have been a goal, was not called such by the referees.

Allowing a 'bad goal' - the ball did not go over the line, should not have been a goal, was called a goal by the referees.

Bugger it....I though this thread was making fun of Blader's urinary problems.

Nope and be careful. if you spell his name wrong he'll smite you.