SHARE
COPY LINK

FOOTBALL

Is it time La Liga introduced video referees?

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique stressed his desire for Spanish football to embrace video technology in crucial refereeing decisions on Wednesday, whilst league chiefs expect trials to take place from next season.

Is it time La Liga introduced video referees?
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique stressed his desire for Spanish football to embrace video technology in crucial refereeing decisions on Wednesday, whilst league chiefs expect trials to take place from ne

Barça were denied a clear goal in Sunday's controversial 1-1 draw at Real Betis when referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez failed to see the ball had crossed the Betis goal line and was unaided as, unlike Europe's other major leagues, La Liga doesn't have goal line technology.

“I think we have to differentiate between video refereeing which means re-refereeing many things and I am not in favour of…and helping the referees with technology in key moments of the game,” said Enrique ahead of his side's Copa del Rey semi-final, first leg at Atletico Madrid.

“A ball over the line or disallowed goal or red card offence…these are the plays where the referees need help and would only lose two or three seconds to check and clarify.”

La Liga president Javier Tebas has previously dismissed the use of Hawk-Eye technology used for goal line incidents in other leagues on cost grounds and believes the type of video refereeing, trialed by FIFA at December's Club World Cup, is a cheaper and more practical resource for the future.

“We have always defended the use of technology in football and in this case we believe video refereeing is the most advanced form,” Tebas said on Monday.   

“The cost was almost €4.5 million euros ($4.8 million).

Every year there are seven or eight incidents like this and it seemed to us a fortune when there
are other (technologies) in the market at a far lower cost.

“In Spain we have to agree with the referees' committee and we have already communicated to them that next year there will be trials like there are in the Bundesliga or Premier League.”

And Tebas believes all the major leagues will move towards a system of video refereeing for controversial incidents by 2018 should FIFA approve.   

“By July 2018 if FIFA have already definitively approved it we will install (video refereeing),” added Tebas.

“Given how the trials are going by July 2018 there will be video refereeing in all professional leagues.”

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

SHOW COMMENTS