Video technology ‘fair but kills spectacle’

Paris: The experiment with video assistance that backfired on France against Spain earned mixed reviews on Wednesday, praised by most for being more fair but condemned by some for killing the spectacle.

France lost 2-0 in Paris on Tuesday in a game in which the Spanish side benefited twice from crucial video assistant referee decisions.

A goal against the Spanish was disallowed after it was ruled offside in consultation with the video and a Spanish goal disallowed by the referee for offside was overturned and ruled a goal after a review.

For the French, who decided to trial video assistance for the first time at the friendly match, the outcome was galling, even though fans and players recognised the video calls were correct.

“If it allows you to correct mistakes, as has been the case here, even though it went against us, that seems to me to be good for justice in sport,” said French coach Didier Deschamps.

Spanish counterpart Julen Lopetegui predictably had no arguments with how the decisions played out. “The refereeing resolved the two actions in a fair manner,” he said.

French striker Antoine Griezmann headed in what appeared to be the opening goal at the Stade de France shortly after half-time, triggering delight in the stands and on the field after France had been on the back foot throughout the first period.

The referee then consulted the video assistant and about 30 seconds later the goal was chalked off for offside. It was the reverse when Gerard Deulofeu scored Spain’s second goal 12 minutes from time.

The new system might be more fair, admitted French captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, “but it also kills off the joy of scoring a goal”. “It is a pain because you have to wait before you can celebrate the goal.”

The 80,000 spectators at the stadium were left out of the process with no video slow-motion screen to view and saw only the hand gestures of the referee to show that he wanted a video review. “That dehumanises the game a bit and can detract from the spectacle,” said former referee Bruno Derrien. “Football is about sentiments, including that of injustice. Video takes responsibility away from the assistant referees.”