Blackburn Rovers blog: Rejecting videos is FIFA own goal

9:53am Tuesday 9th March 2010

By John Myles

With Rovers having a blank weekend due to Birmingham’s involvement in the FA Cup (and what a shame we weren’t able to catch them on an obvious off day), it was cup overkill on ITV.

Meanwhile, those Premier League games that went ahead eased Bolton’s fears of relegation while deepening the gloom of fellow strugglers Hull, Wolves, West Ham and, of course, Burnley.

Somewhat bizarrely and to my amusement the middle name of goalscorer Kevin Davies was revealed.

For some reason, best known to themselves, the coffee chain Costa has been asking footy fans questions about loyalty.

According to their poll, men are more likely to dump their partner than change their football team.

Apparently ‘only’ 10 per cent would shift allegiance from their team whereas 25 per cent would ditch their partner if someone better came along.

Clearly, fans are so much more steadfast than footballers because it seems to me that nearly 100 per cent of players would move from one club to another if a better offer came along and, if Terry and Cole are any guide, that 25 per cent figure for dumping the partner may also be an underestimate so far as footballers are concerned.

Their vote last week to reject the introduction of goal-line technology and video replays seems to fly in the face of common sense and logic that was underlined again this wekend when a Birmingham City ‘goal’, which had clearly crossed the line was disallowed. Some purists may applaud the decision to retain what is referred to as the ‘human’ element but these ‘traditionalists’ would have no doubt been against innovations such as goal nets, floodlights and substitutes when they were first introduced.

I personally feel that some limited use of technology would not only lead to fairer outcomes but, just as in rugby and cricket, would actually add an extra element of anticipation and excitement whilet the crowd awaits the video referee’s verdict.

It should at least be piloted and FIFA’s closing of the door on so-called idealogical grounds is, I believe, at odds with the general feeling among the majority of both fans and officials in the game.

Tottenham’s stalemate against Fulham in their FA Cup tie might prove to be a blessing for Rovers’ prospects of getting a result in the early televised kick-off next Saturday against Spurs down at White Hart Lane.

Rovers seem to play pretty well against Spurs away from home and I have very fond memories of Chris Samba’s last minute winner in a previous televised bout a few seasons ago.