The use of technology to prevent erroneous decisions by the match officials in the Premiership needs to be urgently addressed by the authorities. Other sports have successfully incorporated the use of video replays without any loss of excitement in the game but football refuses to embrace technology. This extends to FIFA and UEFA too.
The referees and their assistants have too much control and influence in games. Poor decisions not only affect outcomes, titles, promotion and relegation issues but also the careers of the participants. Equally disturbingly, when over £200m is being bet globally on the big matches, the officials take on a key and central role with regard to the markets.
I'll reluctantly accept that penalties, free kicks and sendings off will remain the province of the referees. But at least there is a degree of accountability with these decisions that enable one to determine the official's attitudes.
With respect to goal-line and offside, video technology must be used immediately. It's quick, accurate and honest and prevents any deliberate manipulation by the match officials. The 4th official has tv evidence available at the pitchside - it's a no-brainer.
However, the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB) together with the Premier League are insistent on giving the referees a greater degree of unilateral control on the pitch. Numerous micro-adjustments to enhance the power of officials have been created. Some examples are the determination of the amount of injury time; allowing key free kicks to be taken without a whistle (or not); prevention of stoppages for injuries where, historically, players would put the ball out of play; the selective usage of the advantage rule; the use of microphone technology to maintain omnipotent control of all aspects of the game. Other external randomising factors are also commonplace eg watering of the pitch and the use of different balls for both FA Cup and League Cup matches.
To prevent the development of infrastructures which allow corruption in the game, the control should be spread as widely as possible. How about two referees on the pitch; a 5th official with video technology; a far greater number of match officials on the roster; the avoidance of referees repeatedly teaming up with the same assistant referees; more women officials; using referees from other territories (already utilised in countries where corruption is acknowledged).
Our Trading Team thoroughly analyse and psychologically profile all match officials in all leagues. We make money from our observations of the corruption in football but we would prefer to make money from an honest and competitive sport.
