The competition solves a problem that never existed

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Ask 100 football fans what they want for the future. Something is coming together nicely. Some would like a new stadium. Others a real lawn. Finally a club tour with a big wallet. Always important: reasonable entrance fees, cool drinks, humane treatment of visitors in the stadium (also among themselves).

Maybe one or the other will find: a video referee that works. Can happen if you ask Musa Araz from FC Sion. The wish list is long.

The calibrated offside line will not be on it. Every bureaucrat’s digital dream (hurray, a black and white decision!) has nothing to do with the football we love. Whether Zeki Amdouni’s big toe is two centimeters closer to the goal than Cedric Zesiger’s shoulder when the ball is passed is basically irrelevant. This interpretation has long since deviated from the spirit of the rule. And what actually happened to “When in doubt for the attacker”?

Especially since things are not so black and white. When Bayern’s Sadio Mane was denied a goal against Mainz in April because the calibrated line in Cologne’s basement had detected offside, the ARD “Sportschau” later showed its own second line. Mane was not offside here, as the moment the ball was released had been defined a fraction of a second earlier – and probably correctly. Yes, what now?

The CHF 100,000 that the digital offside line should cost could have been spent on referee training or further education. The brave people in black, pink and neon yellow can still use some help with their difficult job. With the calibrated offside line they don’t get one that does them any good.

Source : Blick