Controversy throughout the game

Here are some recent views by Premiership referees on the use of technology throughout sport:

Essentially, in rugby, as I understand it, if any part of the body hits the ground outside the field of play, regardless of where the ball is, then play should stop. Therefore Wilkinson (against Scotland in the Six Nations), with his right foot clearly hitting the deck before grounding the ball, should not have been credited with his try. All this oval-ball attention is relevant. Think back to poor, much maligned Pedro, and the calls for technology. And this is where the technology debate MUST be changed, and split into two. There are two arguments:

One is to introduce some sort of electronic device such as a microchip in the ball, to aid decision-making. The other is for video replays. The microchip-in-the-ball technology, used in a junior world tournament in 2005 and since developed and modified, will be put to trial at December's FIFA Club World Cup. I am perfectly happy with this method, should these trials prove successful. It only makes sense to use this technology if we have it at our disposal, and that the cost and practicalities make it possible. I am very much against video replays, and have been for some time, mentioning it repeatedly on these pages. To me, the Johnny Wilkinson incident is the counter argument to what happened a week previous with Pedro Mendes (Man Utd vs Portsmouth). The difference between the two strands? Us. Humans, Homo sapiens. If, and it is still a big if, the technology can be correctly made and proven, then it can be employed independent of us.

Look at tennis, who have for years used 'Cyclops' to indicate whether a serve is out, and now the hawkeye system for during open play. The trouble with replays was proven at Twickenham. Donal Courtney, who was the fourth official at the Calcutta Cup match, clearly called wrong. It was human error. Surely a camera in the goalmouth, or from whenever, is subject to the officials, even with the assistance of video replays, making mistakes of judgment. Many refer to the fact that refereeing decisions are part of the game, and that it provides a talking point post game. The counter claim is often that technology must be used to ensure fairness.

Taken from: http://www.football365.com/referee365/0,17033,8747_1899211,00.html