<p>Why was this the ONLY time in the tournament they used instant replay…with all the bad calls, the flagrant fouls etc., they chose this time, in the final, with a few minutes left, to look at tape</p>
<p>That foul was more than flagrant, it could have had serious (perhaps lethal) results.</p>
<p>According to the FIFA: “We will await the result [of the investigation] before taking action. The presumption of innocence until proven otherwise is and remains a sacred principle.” At the same time, the basic consensus is that the whole affair is a mess. Even Zidane is deeply saddened by the lack of fair play in the world cup final and feels that he does not deserve a medal. Everyone is impatiently waiting for tonights’ tv interview with Zidane. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/france/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/07/12/WORLDCUP_Zidane_2nd_Lead.html[/url]”>http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/france/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/07/12/WORLDCUP_Zidane_2nd_Lead.html</a></p>
<p>I agree it was flagrent, but why was this the one and only time out of dozens of games was something FINALLY looked at?</p>
<p>This world cup had some serious problems, many fouls were allowed, many people ejected that should not have been. I know the nature of the game, believe me, but the refs at this world cup in many cases were not the best</p>
<p>Guess good decisions have to start somewhere.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why viewing videotapes is not allowed. If it were, there would be fewer bad calls. We all saw the headbutting well before the ref issued the red card and it was incontrovertible.</p>
<p>marite, I think it’s just the fact that soccer hasn’t gotten around to utilizing instant replay yet. It took years for other sports to finally institute replay rules, and they weren’t too anxious to do it. I agree that it makes sense to have an accurate picture of what happened in a particular instance at THAT time and not after the game is over when nothing can be done about a poor call or a missed call, etc. In other sports, there are specific instances when instant replay can be used, it’s not available for every eventuality. I’m wondering if in soccer it might have something to do with whether every game is filmed/televised. I honestly don’t know if games are routinely shown on tv in Europe? Obviously, without that, instant replay isn’t possible.</p>
<p>I didn’t actually see the game, but note that even in football, which uses instant replay for many calls, it is not used to call penalties. If the refs miss a penalty, no matter how blatant, instant replay can not be used to overturn the “non-call”. Of course, in football they are wise enough to have a sufficient number of referees watching all of the players so that the liklihood of getting away with something like that is much less.</p>
<p>alwaysamom, in Europe soccer games, first and even second division games are broadcast with a loyal following replete with slow motion replay. Maybe the refs fear losing their jobs to the all seeing, impartial eye of the video arbitrage.</p>
<p>To those that state Zidane never loses his cool, you are WRONG! He has been ejected from many games in his career and I think the number runs in the teens, depending who is quoting.</p>
<p>To those who state that many other fouls went uncalled, this too is untrue. Several players during the world cup were sent off the field for either a red card or accumulation of two yellow cards in one game.</p>
<p>What Zidane did is inexcusable. Trash talking, unfortunately, is part of the game of soccer, and many other sports for that matter. Zidane, toted to be one of the greatest center midfielders to take the pitch did a great disservice to himself, his team, his country, and in my opinion most importantly his thousands of young fans who idolize him. Soccer is suppose to be a gentlemens’ game. IF France had won, he would have not had the honor of joining his teammates on the field and sharing in the celebration.</p>
<p>Furthermore, for him to be awarded the Golden Ball Award, the MVP equivalent is shameful. I am so happy to see Americans starting to pay more interest to soccer afterall it is " a beautiful game".</p>
<p>Of course, in football they are wise enough to have a sufficient number of referees watching all of the players so that the liklihood of getting away with something like that is much less.</p>
<p>[Oh</a> O K](<a href=“http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/story?page=thepulse060206]Oh”>The Pulse: Unnecessary Officiating - ESPN)</p>
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<p>As with most everything else, the FIFA has to debate and then rule on just how to incorporate technology into the game; but it does seem likely that video refereeing will play a greater role in the game in future.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.smh.com.au/news/Soccer/New-calls-for-video-refereeing-as-linesmans-error-robs-Spurs/2005/01/05/1104832177121.html[/url]”>http://www.smh.com.au/news/Soccer/New-calls-for-video-refereeing-as-linesmans-error-robs-Spurs/2005/01/05/1104832177121.html</a></p>
<p>Although it does seem that many soccer fanatics view the referee’s blind-spots and frailties as an integral part of the game. “The human eye is not as quick as a computer but, the human mind can pick up all the nuances, all the smells, the looks on people’s faces, and make a decision.” Sounds to me that the refs. want to keep their calls unchallenged as much as possible. Tradition over tech.</p>
<p><a href=“CNET: Product reviews, advice, how-tos and the latest news”>CNET: Product reviews, advice, how-tos and the latest news;
<p>EK4, the only bigger sport than watching a sport is complaining about the officiating of a sport. There will always be complaints (mostly regarding the sourness of the grapes).</p>
<p>alwaysamom:</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure a lot of soccer games are televised in Europe. In some countries of Asia you can watch soccer games all day long (there’s a cute news item about soccer mad Thai monks on the BBC website. Thai monks–who are not supposed to get excited and who are supposed to be up early to collect alms–turn out to be as soccer mad as the rest of Thailand). </p>
<p>I agree that it will take time for instant replay to make a difference in refereeing, but to ban it seems odd to me.</p>
<p>
some are apparently more sour than others</p>
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<p>gentlemen don’t perspire</p>
<p>Um, it is not sour grapes, the officiating was not great…I am not talking about one game or one team, it was bad for many games, by many refs</p>
<p>Some of the Refs are parttime cops, bookmakers, etc., and are not often the best refs</p>
<p>How is that sourgrapes? I didn’t care who won the world cup, but ask around, the reff-ing was not up to par for many games…</p>
<p>And the diving must be looked at…to give a yellow card for a fake dive, well, if the ref can’t tell the difference, you need new refs</p>
<p>I always thought it was golf that was referred to as the gentleman’s game, not soccer.</p>
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<p>“I apologize to all the children” who watched the match Sunday, Zidane said in his first comments about the act of violence that marked the end of his career.</p>
<p>Zidane did not specify exactly what Italian defender Marco Materazzi said that enraged him, but that it was insulting to his sister and mother.>> </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/12/D8IQJLV82.html[/url]”>http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/12/D8IQJLV82.html</a></p>