UEFA Euro 2012: Instant Replay Is Not A Luxury Anymore It's A Necessity

With England at a one goal advantage and the Ukraine needing a win to remain alive in Euro 2012 tournament play, the Ukraine found themselves with an opportunity to equalize in the 62nd minute. At 61:40, an attempted score appeared to fully cross the goal line before being kicked out by English defender John Terry.

Had goal opportunities been subject to instant replay review, there is little doubt video evidence would have overturned this call. Nonetheless, the goal line official positioned several yards from the near post ruled the ball never fully crossed the goal line, preserving England's 1-0 lead.

Conversely, the sideline assistant referee failed to call a proper offside against Ukraine several seconds earlier, raising the total to two missed calls on the attack, one adversely affecting either squad.

As for UEFA, FIFA and other sports governing bodies looking to get the call right, perhaps England-Ukraine is yet another nail in the proverbial coffin in keeping overt video technology out of the world's game.

In 2010, it was opted to fix the problem by adding a fourth and fifth referee. Obviously the results show this has not worked.

In all fairness UEFA and FIFA not only should, but must follow baseball, basketball, American football and hockey in authorizing certain plays, such as scoring chances, to undergo instant replay analysis and review. It is not only a more modern but also more accurate way to referee a game.

EU-Digest