Soccer Could Adopt Other Sports' Technology

Hawk-eye is a ball-tracking technology used in tennis to resolve controversial line calls. What may appear as an "out" to the umpire could possibly be in by five millimeters after reexamination. Hawk-eye uses ten cameras to clarify an "in" or "out"; thus, reducing the chances of errors occurring by the system. If FIFA chooses to use a Hawk-like technology, cameras installed at the goal-line in cooperation with a camera-crew could review shots that are not called correctly by the officials. It could slow down the speed of the match but errors would be eliminated. Another possibility to eliminate faults such as offsides is to employ Instant Replay as used in American football. The National Football League allows more than just touchdowns to be reviewed; it allows challenges to made on fumbles, passes (complete or incomplete), and ball placement on the field. The same crew that would manage the goal-line cameras would also oversee field position of players. FIFA should explore both Hawk-eye and Instant Replay to eliminate errors not just pertaining to goals but to players being offsides.