Australia joins Scotland in using Video Review against Diving

by Dave Clark on Jul 31, 2009 5:34 PM PDT in Other Professional Soccer Comment 6 comments

Well fans, you asked for it and you got it. Video review of simulation (diving) is in place.

Problem is that Australia is moving faster than Major League Soccer.

... officials announced they will crack down on those players who are caught "in the act of simulation'' to win penalties or have opponents cautioned or sent off.

Players guilty of diving will be suspended for up to two weeks.

Later

If a player is sent off as a result of an opponent's simulation, he will be able to have his red card rescinded.

The A-League said it becomes only the second competition in the world after the Scottish Premier League to introduce the sanctions.

"The chance of being banned for two games is a pretty strong message,'' A-League chief Archie Fraser told Australian daily the Sydney Morning Herald.

We can't know how effective this control will be, but honestly, in MLS is the problem really too much diving?

In my opinion, if MLS ever adds video review of diving it must enact review of violent conduct as well, with the exact same punishment. That balances it out, giving neither side of the equation an advantage. Post-match is also the right way to do this.

Would you like to see MLS join the SPL and A-League in this endeavour?

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The only review I’d be interested in seeing is goaline technology.

Ala this: http://www.cairos.com/unternehmen/gltsystem.php

by Ben on Jul 31, 2009 6:21 PM PDT reply actions

Goalline technology has been rejected by the IFAB and FIFA, but Line Judges have been added in the Europa League up to the knockout stages (about 200 matches).

That would mean 5 officials “on” the pitch. That could be enacted by 2010 for MLS, as the EL test concludes in December.

by Dave Clark on Jul 31, 2009 6:27 PM PDT reply actions

I’d like to see some honest referee reviews first. Technology is great, but without an honest organization running it, it’s completely irrelevant. USSF is not that organization.

by CarlosT on Jul 31, 2009 6:35 PM PDT reply actions

Which of the “terrible” referee decisions that have gone against the Sounders this season would have been affected by post-match video review?
Two cases conveniently highlighted at the US Soccer Referee site are the Riley Sendoff and last week’s Ljungberg Sendoff

With Riley’s red, even though they acknowledge that the ref lost control of the situation and should issued a caution to Berhalter, I don’t see a review committee excusing subsequent infractions, even if they are a direct result of the referee’s incompetence.

As for Ljunberg’s send-off, the video review convinced the referee commitee that he was guilty of both simulation and dissent, even though those of use with rave-green tinted glasses on clearly see that there was contact initiated by the defender (the hip-check) and that Ljunberg initially made special effort to direct his vituperation away from the ref so that it would be an emotional outburst and not dissent.

by -jmc on Jul 31, 2009 6:52 PM PDT reply actions

jmc, if video review was in place, maybe a doubtful like the Ljungberg one doesn’t get made during run of play as the ref leaves it up to slow motion and video to figure it out.

Let’s say that the review reaches the same conclusion, and he gets the yellow. It would still only be a post match yellow, no dissent. No Red, no game changing call, and unlikely to miss the San Jose match.

by Dave Clark on Jul 31, 2009 6:59 PM PDT reply actions