Now, this may seem a little far-fetched, but does it not seem that football should follow cricket and rugby's lead by introducing rules to refer any on-pitch decisions to a third referee? There are numerous decisions that take place in the top leagues all across Europe that baffle and confuse fans and viewers alike.
It seems that football is determined in itself to retain the original forms of decision making, in leaving the final word to the officials on the field of play. Yet these simple mistakes can lead to misleading results and ultimately a potential relegation for a club.
Cricket has introduced the 'third umpire' to negotiate the validity of dismissals that are unclear on the field of play. It only occurs in Test matches at the present, after being successfully tested on the Indian tour of Sri Lanka in 2008.
Each team is allowed three referrals per innings in which they can challenge any on-pitch decisions regarding dubious catches, stumpings, run-outs, and now LBWs (Leg-Before-Wicket). It has been widely criticised, but this will come down to the fact that these players have been learning different rules, and this change will have undoubtedly upset the rhythm for which they are used to.
Football has been under heavy fire in recent years regarding goal-line replays and referees' decision-making. Technology is now at a level where television viewers' can adjudge a decision made by the referee or linesman as wrong, and it is not always by the smallest of margins.
The second-tier in English football, the Championship, witnessed the most controversial refereeing decision at a game between Watford and Reading in 2008. Referee Stuart Atwell astonished fans and players alike by awarding a goal to the visitors despite the ball clearly going a few feet wide of the post.
Reading manager Steve Coppell said that the incident would strengthen calls for cameras and goal-line technology to help officials decide whether the ball had gone into the net and crossed the goalline. As a mainstream sport, football is one of very few which do not offer referrals where they are clearly needed.
A suggestion would be to follow crickets system in which a certain number of decisions can be contested by either team. It would allow for blatant mistakes to be cut from a game that carries so many followers around the globe.
Only a few days ago another mistake was spotted by television replays in the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur. England striker Jermain Defoe had given the visitors the lead, despite the fact he had wandered almost two yards offside, which went unnoticed by the linesman.
These decisions will pile the pressure on footballing associations around the globe to make changes in order to preserve the sportsmanship of the game. Not only does it bring the game into a state of disrepute, it is also identifying how stubborn football is becoming in preserving the original choice of appointing the referee as the man with the final word.
