My Two Cents: Video Replay Should be Implemented in World Cup

By Francisco Romero

The human element in sports is a beautiful thing, as a matter of fact its what makes sports fun and exciting to watch. Fans enjoy a 420 foot home run, a 65 yard pass, a 45 yard goal and three-pointer to seal a game. For all those exciting plays there also exists the bang-bang play at first base, the out of bounds catch, the foul inside the box and stepping on the three-point line.

With technology in hand the NFL was the first major sports to recognize that video replay was instrumental accepting human and officiating error. Currently all for major sports in the United States are using some type of video replay (Baseball, Football, Basketball and Hockey).

The 2014 Brazil World Cup has left no doubt in my mind that replay is also necessary in soccer.

FIFA has implemented “goal-line technology” with seven cameras pointed at the goal line to determine if a ball crossed the goal line. Ultimately the referees have the final say. Although it is a good start I don’t think it is good enough.

Here are some examples of how video replay would have benefited in the current World Cup:

Brazil was awarded a penalty kick on a non-foul by Croatia

Mexico had a goal (by Giovani Dos Santos) called back on offside, one of them was clearly a goal

The Netherlands were awarded a penalty kick on a non-foul against Mexico during the knockout round

Questions will arise as to which plays should be reviewed, frequency of appeals and the amount of time it will take from the game.

The Brazil 2014 World Cup has been one of the most entertaining and fun World Cups I have witnessed, but it is far from perfect and I think FIFA should catch up with technology.