Top 5: Reasons for Technology in Football

Following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Cardiff. it has been confirmed that live trials of video technology will start by 2017-18 at the latest, bringing football a step closer to following rugby and cricket in using video technology.

This; of course, is a positive step but it does means that it could be 2019 or 2020 at the earliest before the trials have been approved and the equipment has been implemented. Realistically, this decision should have been made a great deal earlier as it has already been made clear that the support is needed right now.

Football has always been behind other sports in this field and it was only in 2014 that the goal decision system was introduced to the sport, after almost a whole decade of resistance to its implementation. The system has already given a number of game changing goals that may not have been previously awarded. Here are five reasons why football should now make use of the latest advancements in video technology too…

Arsenal boss Wenger is a keen supporter of introducing video technology to the Premier League – Photo: Marc Atkins/Offside.

5. There is sufficient demand from players, bosses and football fans alike

Arsene Wenger, Greg Dyke, Jose Mourinho, Mike Riley, Slaven Bilic. The list of high profile footballing personalities who have highlighted the need for video technology goes on. Even as early as 2008; the then Manchester City boss, Mark Hughes, was calling for video assistance after a debatable penalty cost them a 2-1 defeat to Steve Bruce’s Wigan.

What is frustrating is that everyone can see how helpful the concept of something like a video referee could be but the calls for its introduction have gone largely unheard. Everyone makes mistakes; but the excuse of human error is wearing thin and with cameras all around the grounds already, it is baffling to see the reluctance to implement such a system.

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