Soccer vs Technology

Even though soccer is growing in popularity in the United States is one of the most watch sports in the world with an average of 3 billions of fans across the globe. An average soccer game is about 2 hours long with an 15 minute interval between halves and there are very few stoppages throughout the games. However , there is something out there that could slow down the flow of the game and possibly increase the hours that an average game of soccer can take.

Oh technology, how I love thee. It is hard to believe that years ago we lived in a world that technology did not dictate our lives as much as it does today. Instead, of sending letters to love ones we send a group email, to keep in touch with friends there is social media, as well as we can follow our favorite artists through twitter instead of buying a magazine in a newsstand. Nowadays , technology is part of our everyday life and it is entering in the world of soccer which can improve the dynamics of the game or it can completely slow down the flow of the game. You will be the judge.

Like any another sports soccer does have its flaws. For instance, the referee might make a decision based on what he just witnessed or make a crucial mistake that might cost a championship. Both situations can occur and they occur very often but it does not take away from the beauty of the game, because referees are human and bad decisions can occur at any given day. Usually, it takes a few seconds for a decision to be made with the occasional upset players, which does not disrupt the flow of the game as much. Sometimes those decisions can be decisive on a game, because those upset players can become more aggressive as the game continues. That is all part of the game and it should remain intact, because the referee is the one that made decision to either award a penalty or give a free kick. On the other side, technology can minimize the amount of bad decisions made by the referees.

In most of the mainstream sports in the United States, there is some type technology implemented. For instance, the NFL uses instant replays in order to either overturn the call made on the field or keep that call. Other sports also use video evidence in order to provide substantial evidence to make an educated call on a possible game changing play. However, technology has not being a part of a game soccer and I am not so sure if there is a place for it.

In 2006, in the final of the World Cup in Germany the final was against Italy and France in which there was a very controversial call in regards to Zinedine Zidane, one of France's top player, in which he gave a head-butt to one of Italy's central defenders. The result was that he was ejected from the game and Italy went to win the final. However, Zidane was not caught by the referee or the assistant ref it was the stadium instant replays that caught Zidane. In this particular case, technology played a huge component on the result of the game , because what would happen if the stadium would not show the replay he would not have being sent off. Now , the year is 2016 FIFA is trying to introduce video technology to a game in the World Club Cup in which was Atletico Nacional of Colombia versus Kashima Antlers of Japan, in which saw the referee utilizing video technology to award a penalty kick to the Japanese team . Yes another crucial decision made by technology that change the whole dynamic of the game as well as disrupt the flow of a very balanced game. If the penalty was not awarded maybe the result of the game could have been different or maybe the penalty did not change the overall outcome of the game. You will be the judge.