Satellites transmit slow-motion replays of this split second to the whole world; closeup images of just how the [...]]]> A sea of orange shirts shout at the Television screen in the stuffy, dark pub down Santa Monica Blvd – everyone saw how the Russian player faked a faul, yet the referee decided to card the Dutch player.

Satellites transmit slow-motion replays of this split second to the whole world; closeup images of just how the Russian player was only tapped on his shoulder by his Dutch counterpart, and masterfully fakes a hit in the face, taking a fall to the ground and clutching onto his face as if in agony. He does this shamelessly, probably knowing that the whole world is watching, but that the referee is the only person he needs to deceive; the only person who cannot see exactly what has happened.

This is a common event during soccer matches – a wrong misjudgment by the referee, accepted by viewers worldwide for cultural and historical reasons – the referee’s decisions must be respected, even when wrong! Why do they not have a little pocket device to consult in such cases? Why is a technological solution not proposed to fix this situation?

The assumption is that misjudgments and mistakes are an integral part of the game. In sports, like in business and other disciplines, those who play by the rules, tend to lose. The difference is that only in sports, are these actions magnified and accepted worldwide for “cultural” reasons. Or is it only in sports?
more: failing to follow the rules

[tags]rules,culture,uefa,euro2008,soccer[/tags]