Question Number: 22332

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 10/22/2009

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

Just watched a europa game today (fulham vs roma) and saw 2 additional referee, one at each goal line without a flag in their hands. Initially it does not seem right but then I remember that it is the experimental try out to have 2 more referees in a game for europa.

What is the panel opinions on this? If the argument is to have 2 additional pairs of eyes to help the CR, then wouldn't more referees (maybe another 2 or 4) be better? Would it be even better to have those 2 referees sitting upstairs monitoring numerous video shots from different angles?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The changes to the laws at the elite level! How do you do that at the park level? I often referee as a single official!! Technology is a useful tool and the desire to get the decisions right may well create this plethora of video review and extra eyes but in my opinion the game changes are in line with NFL video review yet I still see wrong decisions with long delays. Hell they near lynched Esse at the world cup when video review did not show the initial foul at all.
I am a traditionalist and 3 officials with a 4th works well as long as we stay within the spirit of the beautiful game. I do not want to see it become the wonders of a technology game!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
I'm a technologist and I see nothing wrong with a appointing a video referee who is miked up to the ref and assistants to assist in matter of fact. Technology would improve the situation significantly at the elite level with better decisions made with the use of video replay and slow motion. TV officials have been introduced by other sports successfully at the upper levels and football should IMO follow suit. These two extra officials IMO are extra cost and they will get these penalty area decisions wrong. The naked eye needs technology to help. Fact. As they are rolled out I see them creating far more problems that solving them. Problems are emerging already such as communication, differences of interpretation.

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