As the World Cup of Soccer advances, it’s most unfortunate that the rules of the game stand still, seemingly lost in the dark ages, with FIFA refusing to recognize the fraudulent nature of an international championship,where obvious human error, which could be easily corrected through video replay, is allowed to remain as part of the game. There were two grotesque mistakes in judgment that were made on Sunday, which the entire world of soccer fans also witnessed. Frank Lampard’s goal, which would have tied England’s game with Germany at 2, was missed by the sideline official, and Argentina’s first goal against Mexico by Carlos Tevez, was clearly offside,and was also missed by the game officials.
It is entirely possible that both Germany and Argentina would have won their games anyway, but no one can say that with absolute certainty now. Why should there be any doubt at all ? Even with the talk that FIFA will place an extra official behind the net for the next World Cup in 2014, why not eliminate the possibility of human error on goals entirely ? How does it in any way harm the game, to know that the score at the end of a game, is the correct one ? Why is FIFA hanging on to this twisted ideal, that an error in human judgment, is in some way, still a part of the game, when all errors on goals can be completely removed from soccer? France qualified for the World Cup on a handball goal by Thierry Henry against Ireland. There is quite a long list of questionable or botched calls in this World Cup, which will likely now be remembered as much for its errors by officials, as it will be for anything else. That’s quite an embarrassing legacy, and most unfortunate for South Africa, as the host country.
I have a hard time believing that the winning team at this level, can be entirely satisfied in knowing that their victory was somewhat shady , even if they don’t say so publicly. It really is sad that the most anticipated and most watched sporting event in the world, has a credibility issue with several of it’s games, and perhaps, with the entire tournament.