FIFA's response to blown calls and reffin mistakes...BAN the big screen replays in the arena

[tornado]

FIFA has the solution...just don't let anyone in the stadium see the replay so they won't know how badly the refs have blown the call!!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/803404/ce/uk/&cc=5901?ver=us

[Da Coach]

FIFA's website, which had refused to allow video of the blown goal call in the US vs. Slovenia game, also refused video of yesterday's blown calls to be seen or mentioned on their website.

[VeveJones007]

FIFA needs to test replay at Euro 2012 and then implement it fully by the next World Cup. Just put an official in the booth like for college football games. If there is a goal or a questionable goal, just have him take a look to make sure there wasn't anyone offside and that the ball crossed the line cleanly.

I think this World Cup has had enough Vinny Testaverde at the goalline incidents to push replay to the forefront.

[SFP]

FIFA for some odd reason does not like to make the refs accountable for their game calling. This type of behavior will always raise suspicion with the American sports fan and because of that it will be hard for soccer to really penetrate this market at a high level. The MLS has a page set up that talks about the refs call good and bad http://www.mlssoccer.com/content/us-...zes-calls-week

It just looks like they are hiding something. There is no reason not to improve the play calling in any sport at this level if the technology is available. Yesterday's blown calls were just another disgrace and unfortunately this WC will be remembered for the terrible calls by the refs and those Vuvuzelas. What a shame and I blame FIFA 100%.

[ChewaBrave]

Holding accountability, and owning the problems with reffing is certainly something fifa needs to do, but I actually don't have a problem with them not showing things that have already happened that would prove to be controversial, on the big boards at the games. Largely, my reasoning for this is public safety. These arenas are packed full of a lot of emotion, in places in the world with considerably less stable rule of law. Projecting things on the massive titantrons that may help to infuriate or inspire some antics against a team, a player, a referee, or other crowd members, is just not something i think that should be risked. Fix the problems, definitely. generate accountability, of course. but this theory isn't something i have a great deal of problem with especially as they have yet to be able to fix any of those issues.

[SFP]

I agree not showing the controversial plays at the stadiums. I believe MLB has that rule in place also. Safety is paramount for all involved. Still the question is what will FIFA do after this WC? The Spanish ref in the Dutch/Slovakia game was terrible. We do not need a UN delegation of reffs just the best. The guy who did the Brazil/Chile game was great!

[ChewaBrave]

I agree entirely. I really think the best plan is simply to develop a list of review-able scenarios and leave it at that. Have the fourth ref take care of it, done deal. Leave it to only when an objectionable goal is scored (only in regards to offsides, and whether the ball crossed the line), and direct red cards. Include better enforcement of carding for flopping, and time management. Toss all that in for Euro 2012, and get back to the good stuff.

[SFP]

I agree entirely. I really think the best plan is simply to develop a list of review-able scenarios and leave it at that. Have the fourth ref take care of it, done deal. Leave it to only when an objectionable goal is scored (only in regards to offsides, and whether the ball crossed the line), and direct red cards. Include better enforcement of carding for flopping, and time management. Toss all that in for Euro 2012, and get back to the good stuff.

I agree and add one more thing. Make carding for flopping re-viewable after the game.

[Da Coach]

A few articles this morning about the World Cup's influence on how American's view soccer-

This article suggests the US "success" in the World Cup will help increse US fans' interest in soccer-
US World Cup success will increase soccer??™s support in America

http://www.irishemigrant.com/ie/go.asp?p=story&storyID=6857

But this writer says the exact opposite, and that the US soccer team lost ground-
Soccer team lost ground with defeat

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/146747820

But most writers echo what I believe to be the truth- that most Americans are happy to see soccer disappear, and return in 4 years, or that Americans are more concerned about Landon Donovan's supermodel wife than they are about him and his teammates.-

Jay Mariotti-
Face Reality: Soccer Hype Is Baloney

http://jay-mariotti.fanhouse.com/2010/06/28/face-reality-soccer-hype-is-baloney/

World Cup Goes On, US Interest Goes Back to Nil-Nil

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/06/world_cup_goes.php

FIFA To Americanize Soccer? Don't Hold Your Breath

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/412505-fifa-americanize-soccer-dont-hold-your-breath

And the mounting number of embarrassing mistakes that have significantly altered games, has finally prompted the FIFA president to admit the mistakes, and consider video technology to improve the sport.
FIFA President Apologizes for Refereeing Errors

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/sports/soccer/30ref.html

[ChewaBrave]

It is what it is. You either like it or don't. It is growing in the US regardless of what talking heads say, if for no other reason than the constantly growing foreign born population, specifically from Latin American. At the end of the day 'Average Americans' are free to not watch, international soccer has survived 80 years without them, and club soccer over a century. Different strokes for different folks.

[Da Coach]

The "talking heads" keep telling us how much soccer is growing in the US, but it is not so clear it is.
Yes, the US-Ghana match was watched by more viewers in the US than any previous men's soccer match (14.9 million viewers)- a number that pales compared to most important sporting events televised in the US.

And, ironically, it is a much smaller number than the 18 million viewers that watched the US women win the Women's World Cup over China in 1999.
And it it not much different from 2 soccer matches from the 1994 World Cup- 14.5m viewers in the USA for the 1994 Italy v Brazil World Cup final, and then the 13.7m viewers for USA v Brazil in the round of 16 in 1994. Those 2 games drew slightly fewer total viewers that the 2010 US-Ghana match, but a larger share of the TV audience at that time!

When you consider those matches were 16 years ago, and drew comparable ratings, maybe soccer interest isn't really growing after all?

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/blog/2010/06/record-breaking.html

Note this article prior to the US-Ghana match where it says the experts were expecting a US viewership of over 18 million, but it was only 14.9 million.

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/06/26/america-gets-ready-for-greatest-ratings-day-in-soccers-tv-history/

The viewership now after the US is eliminated, is expected to drop off to the 3-4 million range.

[tornado]

considering the amount of hype that went into that game, the perfect timing (middle of the afternoon on Saturday), the multiple network-coverage being given to it...... and the time of year when there's just not a lot of sports on TV (basketball, hockey, FB, and all college and HS sports are done, and baseball is pre-All Star Game so interest is still weak..)

I guess it's no surprise that it was watched by a fair number - especially when compared to other soccer that's VIRTUALLY NEVER shown anywhere except on the high cable/premium channels...

But I agree with Da Coach, that the way those absolute jackasses at FIFA have devised their strategy -- the slow, keep-away style, the low scores, then the horrible officiating and their unwillingness to even consider discussing any of this, it has turned me off and I will go back to just watching local soccer, youth soccer and high school soccer, where the participants play hard and care rather than watching a bunch of millionaires showing off their tattoos and writhing in agony over every little owwie they get on the field...

[SFP]

Soccer is already big in certain markets and demographics in the USA. If FIFA makes a few changes I'm sure the game will grow and if the USSF can develop some world class players it could become a formidable sport approaching hockey. The passion you see in San Francisco for the sport I'm sure is much greater then Peoria.

[ChewaBrave]

Why does any of this matter? Futbol, is the global sport. Despite what the US thinks or feels, it just is. As I said, they have survived a long time with little to no interest from the US, they will continue to do so. Why is it EVERY world cup we have the discussion about soccer growing in the US? The only new wrinkle is that some people apparently feel they should tailor the rules to better suit american tastes. Those of us in the US that like it, will continue to watch and go to MLS games and the euro/mls exhibitions, etc. Those that don't will spend their sporting dollar elsewhere.

[tornado]

Why does any of this matter? ...

2 answers...
-they want it to matter very much and "they" and spending zillions to try to make it matter, but in the end they will sway very few in the US into doing as they want, becoming big time soccer fans
-it does matter to many who have played or coached soccer (as I have done for 12 years) as I wanted to see great soccer and fair play...sadly I feel cheated.....