The referee and touch judge consult with the TMO at the Rugby World Cup on the audio feed to the crowd and television audience. Photo: David Davies/PA Wire
After last weekend's disastrous mistake at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, when the video assistant referee failed to spot an incorrect offside signal which ruled out a legitimate Liverpool goal, there was a lot from Liverpool apologies. body representing match officials.
For the 10th time in the last two seasons, referees have had to apologize for the competence of their video assistants, admitting there was “significant human error” in their decision-making at Spurs.
Now, as part of its extended mea culpa, the company Professional Game Match Officials Ltd has agreed to Liverpool's request to release recordings of conversations between referee Simon Hooper and Darren England, Var. Initially, only Liverpool FC will have access to the content. But over time, as they promise, the recording will be made public. And about time.
For too long, the entire process of video assistant refereeing has been shrouded in unnecessary secrecy. At the stadium, fans are denied any information about what is happening, they just have to wait for a decision from above. This is presumably because fans cannot be trusted to behave decently if the discussions become public. Instead, we are deliberately kept in the dark about what is happening. As if this would improve the collective mood.
The openness has been toned down a bit recently, with the visuals of Ware's decisions now being played on the big screens of some stadiums. That's where they have the big screens. There are no screens at Old Trafford, the country's largest club stadium. Largely because they cost money to install. Although that's another story.
But now, finally, we get to not only see, but also hear what is happening. To be fair, in a bid to make its processes a little more open, from next season PGMOL has already agreed to allow viewers to hear oral discussions as they happen, just as experts and commentators have been given access for some time. The decision to allow the recording of last Saturday to be released will only speed things up. Now that the genie is out of the bottle, there is really no reason to put football aside to become as accessible to its followers as cricket, rugby, American football and rugby league.
For too long, English football officials have been afraid of proper transparency. Ever since the trial of connecting referees was abandoned back in the eighties when Tony Adams was caught behind David Elleray's microphone expressing strong opinions about his refereeing, there has been a fear of letting us hear what's going on. And because of this trepidation, huge opportunities were missed. At the very least, being able to hear the players' relentless objections might encourage the likes of Bruno Fernandes to become a little less whiny.
Indeed, the way video assistance has been seamlessly integrated elsewhere should confuse our game's bureaucrats. In any case, there is huge potential here. Whenever an American football referee stands in the middle of the field and makes a decision, it is a moment of drama that is an integral part of the game on the field.
So there's a lot riding on the release of this record. Although, if this becomes a turning point, PGMOL must be prepared to respond. Not least of all the way officials talk to each other. Those who, as part of their broadcasting duties, had the opportunity to eavesdrop on conversations between the referee and Wars were not entirely impressed. Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, former judge-turned-pundit Keith Hackett, who is also a Telegraph Sport columnist, noted that the tone of reporting tends to be too informal, even chatty. Listening to decisions that could have a significant impact on relegation or league position too often feels like bantering with a group of mates, he says. Which is odd because PGMOL hired rugby league referee extraordinaire Phil Bentham last summer, largely to coach football officials on how to communicate more appropriately. Perhaps the best way for umpires to improve their game is to do what they do in cricket and rugby. These sports officials, knowing that their judgments will be public, take a much more formal, almost legal-sounding, verbal approach.
The fact is that PGMOL is not at all embarrassed by the release of the tape. should take advantage of the opportunity to improve. This may well be the last chance to restore trust in the use of technology by opening everything up to full and honest scrutiny. For too long, football has been hidden behind a nebula. Transparency can only improve the situation. Who knows, perhaps the situation would be less dangerous if everyone – players, managers and fans – were given immediate information about what was happening.
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