Oh my GOD !

Currently the world is glued to the greatest sporting event that comes along every 4 years.The FIFA World Cup, football or soccer as called in some countries such as the US where football is a completely different game. Apparently over 1 billion viewers are watching the event.

We have now reached the knock out stage of the tournament where 16 teams are just 4 matches away from lifting the most sought after prize, the World Cup. The stakes are phenomenally high, yet for some strange reason, FIFA, the governing body of the sport refuses to embrace technology.

A few hours ago, Germany defeated England. Historically, in every single encounter between Germany and England some abnormal event has always taken place. And this encounter was to be no different. Whilst Germany were leading 2-1, England shot a goal. Except that the referee did not think so. The ball hit the top bar, landed 2 feet behind the goal line and bounced back out. Less than a sec. later, a billion people knew a mistake had been made. Except for the 3 people who mattered. The on-field officials. And the game went on. Legitimate goal disallowed.

And what did the referee do, as soon as he say the replay. He exclaimed "Oh my God.". But God could not help either him, or England, who went on to loose the game 4-1. A game that could have been a lot different if the half time score read 2-2.

What possible reason could FIFA have for not allowing technology to reduce if not remove errors. The standard answer is that using technology would corrupt the game. How could reducing mistakes corrupt a game ? How can ensuring a fair game corrupt a game. How can allowing skill and talent play a greater role than luck corrupt a game ? But then I guess just like on the field the only thing that matters is what 3 wise men think, off the field FIFA or the people who run FIFA think, matters.

Several games had a similar point of view not so long ago. 2 games that come to mind, Tennis and Cricket. In both of them for the past 5 - 10 years, technology is being used to determine close calls. And errors have become virtually non-existent. Not only have both the games not been corrupted, they have become more competitive and more enjoyable.

My guess is that the issue that FIFA has is an issue most of us have in life. It has nothing to do with new technology, or corrupting the game or any of the much touted but baseless and meaningless reasons. It has to do with Change. Humans hate change and are most comfortable in their known comfort zone. And FIFA, keeps coming up with small changes that while head in the right direction, are typically too little, too late. As an example, this year, there is a 4th official, who assists the referee from outside the field, but cannot overrule or change decisions. Apparently in the next World Cup, 2 additional officials are being introduced at the goal line.

Wouldn't it just be simpler to introduce and allow technology. The coaches of either team could challenge any decision a fixed number of times, say 2 or 3. If the decision is reversed, which means the challenge was correct, then the challenge does not reduce the no. of allowed challenges. This way, in addition to the referee, you have several others monitoring the match very closely and ensuring that almost all decisions are accurate and fair.

And then in this years World Cup qualifiers, France sneaked in by a hand ball goal, which should have been disallowed but wasn't. And Ireland, who would have qualified, got left behind making room for France. The fact that France got eliminated in the first round isn't likely to cheer any of the Irish. And lets not forget the famous "Hand of God" goal by arguably one of the world's greatest footballer of all time, Diego Maradona, against England. The whole of England was up in arms, but Argentina went to win the World Cup.

Isn't it time we allowed God to attend to more important work, whilst we used available resources to prevent travesty of justice ?