Question Number: 29568

Other 7/29/2015

RE: Rec

Russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29556

With regard to review technology. Here in the National Rugby League (NRL), video review is used only after a try has been scored and the on field ref asks for the review themselves. In these instances, they ask for the review and advise they are see the passage of play as 'a try' or 'no try' and the off field team (that is made up of previous players and referees) to prove otherwise.
The NRL Review system does not review 'fouls'. Only passage of play that leads to what appears to be a try.
If an on field ref thinks a player has fouled - they indicate and advise the player that the incident is 'on report'. The player remains in the game and the incident is reviewed by league committee mid week. If player is deemed to have fouled, then sanctions are issued accordingly.
This allows player to remain on the field in doubtful moments, yet know that any other incident in the match that involves them is likely to be dealt with more directly. The NRL also has the 'sin bin' where a player is out of the game for 10mins so the team is short a player for the 10mins.
Generally these mechanisms all work well, although review of a 'try' can sometimes take well over 60sec which is too long.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
Thanks for your observations. Rugby Union has the same system worldwide. The point that I made was that it can take a long time with multiple reviews and also if there is a sniff of complaint by a team the referee uses the review system.
In the English Premier League a player guilty of misconduct that is unseen by the referee can be sanctioned on the basis of video evidence and there has been a number of such situations.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Russell,
thanks for the update,
Perfection is a word not a realistic concept on the soccer pitch where 50% disagree with any call no matter if it is correct or wrong lol As flawed as the system is it has endured, so it will in the future, but possibly with one or two changes as yet unforeseen. As Ref McHugh noted video capture of events unseen by the referee do still get sanctioned!
Cheers