(3) The future

Consulting replays is not football perhaps?  This may be true in terms of the sport having survived for the last 150 years quite happily without it.  But we all must agree that things move forward with technology and it could be argued that the game is certainly not on the same level as in the 1860s, therefore football needs to look to the future not the past.  Besides, other rule changes have come into force over this time (such as the offside and keeper backpass rule) to make the game more fair.
Ultimately, it is a small price to pay to ensure a correct decision is made.

Things are taking a step in the right direction, however.  In July 2012 the IFAB gave the green light to use the new Goal-Line technology in Association Football.  Cameras, sensors and magnetic strips are used to alert officials when the ball crosses the line.  The first official match using the technology is likely to be in December 2012 at the Club World Cup in Yokohama.


It's not replay technology as such, but it's a strong sign things are moving forward.