Posted by Mehdi

7 March 2011

Retrospective Video Evidence is Allowed:

Another weekend of Premier League football sees fan fury over Phil Dowd's failure to punish Jamie Carragher and Brazilian thug Rafael for studs up fouls on Nani and Lucas respectively. Incredibly Dowd's actions, he stood away as brawls broke out following both incidents, were praised by the idiots on Sunday's Match of the Day. We are continually told the media, by websites and pundits that once a referee makes a decision his decision is final.

This is of course complete nonsense as fans of Serie A and the SPL are all too aware. Refereeing decisions have been overturned, punishments have been handed out and red cards rescinded on reviewing video evidence. Two of the most high profile recent examples:

Milos Krasic (Juventus) vs Bologna. 24 October 2010

During a Serie A game between Bologna and Juventus on October the 24th 2010, Juventus were awarded a penalty (subsequently missed) after Krasic dived in the box. Two days later Lega Calcio announced that Krasic would be handed a two game ban for diving. A statement read:

"The referee made an error because of a dive by the Juventus player."

Juventus' appeal was rejected.

Kyle Lafferty (Rangers) vs Aberdeen. 16 May 2009

During this SPL game, Lafferty clutched his face after apparently being heabutted by Aberdeen's
Charlie Mulgrew. Mulgrew was sent off. On review the SFA (Scottish Football Association) rescinded Mulgrew's red card and handed Lafferty a three match ban.

Following the controversy over an incident last week which saw referee Mark Clattenburg ignore Wayne Rooney's premeditated elbow to James McCarthy's head during Manchester United's league game against Wigan, on Saturday FIFA President Sepp Blatter confirmed retrospective video evidence could have been used to punish Rooney:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05032011/58/premier-league-blatter-rooney-punished.html

"This is up to the discretion of the national association. They can use video evidence in the discipline and control committee. They can impose or change a decision if a red or yellow card has been given to the wrong player. If there's violence the national association can intervene and punish a player. This is permitted at the discretion of the national association."

FA chairman David Bernstein contradicted Blatter, saying:

"In the Wayne Rooney situation, under FIFA regulations if the referee sees the incident, which in this case he did do, the FA has no authority except in what is called exceptional circumstances, really exceptional - the Ben Thatcher incident is the only one where that has been used."

Of course the real reason the FA refuse to adopt the use of retrospective video evidence is they do not want to undermine or want to be seen to undermine their inept officials.

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