Soccer needs to upgrade technology

Gone are the ages of old and dark populations not yet industrialized. Technology has changed the world. Now if the world has moved on, why hasn’t the “World’s Game”? Soccer (football) has fallen behind sports like baseball, basketball, and American football in terms of using technology in the rules of the game. Football has “Referee’s Review” or the option of challenging a questionable play using instant replay.  Soccer has no such insurance. This has led to angry fans and immense controversy aimed at FIFA due to the inevitable dishonest outcomes of games and lack of intent on revising it.

Some fans and members of FIFA say that the old-fashioned and unchanged originality of the game is precious and is what makes soccer so unique and appealing.They believe that even if a contest is ruined by a disallowed goal or a misjudged referee decision, it is a part of the game.

It should not be this way. Human error is unpredictable. There needs to be replays and game stoppages to review a controversial play or a non-existent foul. There needs to be goal-line technology to make it easier to judge if the ball went over the line or not.

At the past World Cup, England played Germany in the second round. Germany took a 2-0 lead and England pulled one back. Then came what should have been the equalizing tally on a free kick attempt that indeed crossed the line, but bounced out of the goal and ruled not a goal. England lost 4-1. That disallowed goal killed their spirits and ruined the game. A similar incident happened in the same tournament in a match between Mexico and Argentina. Argentina took the lead on a goal that was clearly offside; Mexico lost 3-1. It was heartbreaking to see the replay and know that nothing could be done.

With more and more instances and calls for change, there is the obvious conclusion that there is only one answer: evolve. Soccer will still be soccer, and like an young college-bound student ready to leave home, it too must depart into a bigger, brighter future.