Is it time for FIFA to introduce some rule changes?

[damnyankeega]

After the horrendous officiating at the U.S. - Slovenia game, I think there should be two changes.

1. Instant replay, or at least the ability for a coach to challenge a call a limited number of times in a game.
2. Most importantly, if a referee signals a foul in a game, HE HAS TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE HELL THE ACTUAL FOUL WAS. Mystery fouls are completely unacceptable.
I'd settle for a rule requiring that a referee state what the infraction is when he calls a foul when he makes the call.
Asking to know what the actual foul is is not the same as barging in and demanding to change the rules. A referee should be obliged explain a ruling, even if he is wrong or mistaken. Both the fans and players have a right to know what the referee saw or was thinking, otherwise the rulings would be perceived (and probably rightly so) as being completely arbitrary and based on the whim of the official, not the rules on the books.

 

[rubblyjubbly]

Get over it. Maurice Edu is a legend though.

 

[Jason B.]

I agree with trying to get calls right in all sports, so I agree with this completely. I just do not feel that a team, and a country in consequence, should lose a match or be eliminated because of the mistake of a neutral official.

 

[Scotch]

While I agree there have been some dubious calls in the past that an instant replay could've cleared up; allowing coaches to ask for them would basically turn football (soccer) into the american football where they seem to stop every few seconds and a game goes for what seems like hours.

 

[FIFA]

The second is far more likely. Football purists will argue until they are blue in the face against Instant Replay no matter how much sense it makes