Rage Online Blog
Monday, October 14, 2002
In case some of you missed this article from the Swiss Times, there is a new technological initiative designed to help referees tell whether or not the ball goes out of play. The system works by utilising a series of chips on the shin-pads and the ball which will transmit a signal to a series of antennae around the pitch, creating a three-dimensional virtual image, and which determines the relative positions of the ball and the twenty two players. The referee, via a special watch, will be informed of an off-side or whether ball has crossed the goal line.
The initiator of the system is a chap by the name of Roland Stucky, a former football player and a German with a large chip on his shoulder about the controversial Geoff Hurst goal in the 1966 World Cup Final (you know, the one that hit the bar and bounced down onto the line but which was awarded on the say of the Russian linesman). According to the article Nurenburg's stadium is being equipped with the relevant electronic gear over the next few weeks and there's to be a public demonstration of the system during the Winter, with the first test involving two teams in a real match scheduled for the end of 2003. Apparently both FIFA and UEFA are very interested in the results of the test, although the cost (200,000 Euros to fit out the ground) could prevent it from becoming widespread.
The initiator of the system is a chap by the name of Roland Stucky, a former football player and a German with a large chip on his shoulder about the controversial Geoff Hurst goal in the 1966 World Cup Final (you know, the one that hit the bar and bounced down onto the line but which was awarded on the say of the Russian linesman). According to the article Nurenburg's stadium is being equipped with the relevant electronic gear over the next few weeks and there's to be a public demonstration of the system during the Winter, with the first test involving two teams in a real match scheduled for the end of 2003. Apparently both FIFA and UEFA are very interested in the results of the test, although the cost (200,000 Euros to fit out the ground) could prevent it from becoming widespread.
Labels: Chips, FIFA, referees, UEFA
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
There's a very interesting, and very important, report in today's Guardian concerning a new FIFA directive. Essentially, from next month, a player receiving a red card will have to serve an immediate one match ban with no right to appeal except in cases of mistaken identity. This is a hard-line ruling introduced to prevent apparent abuses of the current system. In England it would mean that some of the high-profile appeals that we've been seeing recently would no longer occur. This is probably a more sensible system as it ensures that all players will be treated equally and everyone knows where they stand, whereas currently some players can use the appeal system to mean that they will be available for a game that they might otherwise be suspended for if they didn't appeal.
Friday, September 13, 2002
The football cash crisis continues with news from the Guardian that Derby were unable to pay Sheffield United money owing from the transfer of Lee Morris. Leicester are still having problems with their £5 million wage bill (not helped by Denis unWise's demand of half a mill to drop his court case), and now Northampton have to raise half a million pounds by January or face administration. Still, at least FIFA has seen some sort of sense over the ridiculous transfer window business.
Labels: Derby County, FIFA, Leicester City, Money, Northampton Town, Sheffield United, Transfers
