Waggy’s World-Cup Watchdog #3 – The referees decision is final
Mistake-proofing is a natural consequence of our mistakes. We all make them, and usually we are able to rectify them, to some degree. However when the consequence of our mistake becomes too great we naturally install systems to prevent against such human error. For instance, between 1948 – 1975 Toyota developed a production system designed to reduce inconsistency, waste and overburden. Part of this system includes a mechanism known as poka-yoke – a Japanese term that refers to “mistake-proofing”. Its purpose; to eliminate human error.
Of course it’s not just businesses that have developed. Various professional sports now incorporate such systems to help manage important decisions like who wins a race, or who throws the furthest, or even who scores. In some form or other the each of the following have incorporated computer assistance; cricket, American football, tennis, athletics, horse racing, ice hockey, basketball, field hockey, rugby league, even rodeo. Why then does football not?
As far as I can tell, this debate had been going for some time and has something to do with the ‘purity’ of the game. In fact according to an article on the Daily Mail – Sepp Blatter “loves the controversy that arises from such calls”. Of course our recent world cup defeat has given fuel to the fire, but will we ever reach the point where a referees decision is not final? FIFA’s historic stubbornness has already seen Ireland not qualify at the ‘hands’ of France, not to mention Luis Fabiano’s double-hand-ball against Ivory Coast.
Considering the money involved, the millions of fans, and the integrity of the game itself – at what point does football need to evolve, or more pertinently, at what cost?
July 6th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
maybe when all the players stop diving and making it look like a joke. Germany is doing well and how often have you seen them fall right inside the box. Look at Klose and how he has been running through defenders going for the ball and not the ground or easy foul like many players (not naming a few English players, or even the Dutch!). When looking for the easy decision is an accepted part of the game why should a governing body treat it like the rest of sports and make it more interesting to watch.
July 6th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
It would be interesting to see how popular shows such as Talk sport and Five Live’s 606 would be if key decisions ceased to be made in a split second and thus human error is eradicated.