Uproar As Illegal Video Replay Got Zidane Sent Off
July 10, 2006 by admin
Filed under Past World Cups
I’m a big fan of the introduction of technology into football where it can help the match officials make the correct decision on contentious issues though, in the World Cup Final, Zidane’s sending off was far from contentious. Anyone who seen it knew instantly that it was a straight red card offence for violent conduct but the issue here is this: just who did see the initial incident? Answer: none of the five match officials.
Neither the referee, either of his lines men or the fourth and fifth officials off the pitch saw the words between Zidane and Materazzi and then the headbutt which has sullied Zidane’s reputation but after viewing a video replay of the incident (in complete contravention of FIFA guidelines) the fourth official brought the matter to the referee’s attention and demanded that a red card be shown to the French captain.
Zidane or none of his supporters can have any complaints about the decision but if it was made with the aid of technology and that practice is outlawed by the sport’s governing body then does it make the decision illegal and what implications could that have for the World Cup result? In theory, could France demand that the match be replayed? Let’s hope not because it would be a catastrophic end to a rather uninteresting World Cup.
What’s done is done but it has shown that the use of video technology, as is commonplace in other sports, is now fundamental to the running of football matches at the top level. Zinedine Zidane may not have benefitted last night but in the long run the sport of football will be all the better for it. Now it’s up to FIFA to change their rules and not rely on the ingenuity of a fourth official who just wanted the right decision to be made.
I don’t think a replay would be required if someone could prove conclusively that Italians were racially abusing Zidane. “Dirty Terrorist” on video and accredited by lip reading experts would do.
Then at the very least FIFA could be called to invoke Article 55. The defining clause behind the main FIFA message at this tournament.
Having taken the precedent of mingling the fans, giving them fan parks, putting people on the ground backing up the anti-racism theme and, of course, the captains’ of the quarter-finalists addressing the fans before the games, we might expect that a piece of racist abuse (in the workplace, you might say – these are professional footballers are they not) that led to the dismissal of dubious legality (cf. Figo’s head butt) of France, and the tournament’s best player should be dealt with harshly and decisively.
Here’s the particular revision to Article 55 adopted for the tournament:
The new provision in par. 4 stipulates that if any player, official or spectator behaving in a discriminatory or contemptuous manner can be attributed to a certain team, three points will automatically be deducted from that team for the first offence. In the case of a second offence, six points will be deducted, and after a further offence, the team will be relegated. In the case of matches played without points being awarded, the team in question will be disqualified.
Disqualified. oh please!!
it was quite sad for me seeing one of my best players being sent off the pitch. that was a sad moment for one of football’s greatest players. well that is life. nothing is perfect.for the incident he deserved the red card. the referee relying on video evidence that is absolute contradiction of Fifa laws and regulations.
it SEEMS like the remark from Materazzi wasn’t racist – but it certainly was contemptuous – does that mean that technically there is a violation of article 55?