jasper_gill: Do we need video technology?

Roy Carroll: His blunder opened up the video replay debate

Over the past few weeks, we have seen evidence that crucial games have been decided on a decision by officials that would have been made much easier if video technology was introduced into football.

The idea has been such a success in Rugby Union and Rugby League, so why hasn't it been brought into the beautiful game?.

Just a few weeks ago, at Old Trafford, we saw a Pedro Mendes shot, one of the most blatant goals ever witnessed, yet because neither referee Mark Clattenburg or assistant Rob Lewis saw the incident, Tottenham went without 3 points. And it isn't just for goal-line clearances. Simulation, particularly from the foreign players, is a big problem in the European leagues nowadays. But how can referees keep their consistency if they don't know who has dived/overreacted or not? We see many replays of players being fouled, but referees see it as a dive, and vice versa.

Another example of a problem without this technology, is handball, or off the ball incidents. For example, Matt Taylor's `handball` in the Southampton vs Portsmouth cup match on Saturday, cost his side a replay, when television replays seem to show that the ball came off his shoulder.

I'm sure new technology will be expensive, but it is sure to improve football for the better, and most fans will agree that it is needed.