I wouldn't say it's that important - I mean, it's called both ways, and you don't often see dives result in match-changing calls (i.e. really bad PKs or anything). It's just so fake and doesn't look like a sport befitting of grown men when people tumble to the ground at the slightest touch, knowing they get a free kick out of it if they do. USA-Ghana was a little refreshing because the ref was letting them play a little bit and let a lot of flops go uncalled both ways. But in the majority of games it's sooo old to watch people just fall down and get calls for it. If refs stopped giving the offensive player the benefit of the doubt in every single situation maybe people would stop playing like such bitches thinking doing so will reward them.

The thing is though that the offensive player doesn't get the benefit of the doubt, hence why they dive all over the place since trying to play through contact will hardly ever get a call.

Whatever it is that causes the diving, there's clearly an issue with the standards referees use to call the game if a.) legit fouls that don't cause a player to wind up on the ground are not called, and b.) illegitimate fouls that a player dives in response to do get called.

You're better than this.

I think.

There are other (better) alternatives that doesn't require the game being stopped, that have/are been/being tested. Of course, if you watch football more than once each 4th year you probably know this already.

Why do we have to keep banging our heads against the FIFA Wall? Why doesn't a domestic league or two do it on their own? Since the Americans are all for the wiz bang technology, I propose that this league be the MLS. This has the added benefit of allowing the Euros to watch what happens without caring about the results because no one cares about the MLS (except me).

The video replay does not require the game being stopped.
The ref in the Arg-Mex game saw the replay in the big screen. There was no need to stop the play. You can instruct the fourth ref to do this. EASY.

http://www.dump.com/2010/06/28/four-...your-mind-pic/

MLS is cool with it.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...cc=5901&ver=us

Video technology should be a must nowadays. I must admit that i am losing interest in this great game. Such mistakes shouldnt occur anymore nowadays. A real shame.

I disagree.

I like the way it is at the moment. Why should only top level football have video technology?

Also what happens on those 50/50 calls that the ref may or may not get right?

Also how do you regulate it? Three calls in a game?

Then the ref makes a mistake then theres hell to pay.

If it's unlimited then the game gets stopped every 3 seconds.

What exactly do you use? If there is just goal line technology then Tevez goals counts anyway...

Or do you do it for the major things like whether it was a goal, offside or a sending off.

You still see it today when it goes to the studio people disagree whether it's a PK or not so it'll still be there for debate and you'll still get the same reaction but there will be fewer mistakes.

Keep it the way it is imo

Don't watch NHL, but I think the selling of calls is exactly the same in the NBA though.

PaulPierce.jpg

This. 90% of the "dives" you see are actually fouls regardless how you feel about the player's reaction.

This is noob speak but I think for a), part of it is that the ref is supposed to let the play go on if the offense is disadvantaged by stopping the play.

So if the guy plays through the foul, he might get a few off-balance dribbles then immediately lose the ball. The player would rather just go ahead and get the foul instead of leaving it to the refs discretion as to how many dribbles is too many before he loses the benefit of the foul, AND psychologically the ref is just naturally less inclined to call a foul if he has already let the play go on for a second or two even if he should according to the rulebook.

cant tell if this is a level or not

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...cc=5901&ver=us


I am glad Gulati is speaking up about this.

Also:
Guus

I can't believe that the party line of FIFA is "consistency at all levels" while American Football is played by different rules at all levels, basketball is played by different rules at all levels and not only is baseball played by different rules at all levels but even in MLB the 2 leagues play by different rules

I love how the top FIFA-tards think the only reason people watch soccer is because refs make huge errors and we debate them. Yeahhhhhhhhh. Why not rig the game for maximum entertainment then?

I was watching a Mexican national league game and when ever there is a free kick the ref takes a can of temp foam walks out the 10yards sprays the line. Step across it during the free kick auto yellow. It worked so well. To bad Fifa could not have that type of forward thinking with the World Cup.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLS57294920091028

If your argument consists of "You can't fix everything so don't fix anything" it's time to stop posting.

Some people get away with murder and theft. Therefore, we should stop going after murderers and thieves, you see, because it is unfair to those who get caught! If we could be certain that all of them are caught then fine but we can't.

France '98 imo.

[politard derail]Isn't this the death penalty argument?[/politard derail]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/wor...=feeds-newsxml

Lol, he sure pulled a 180 on this one.