Following the Thierry Henry handball saga which saw Ireland knocked out of the World Cup by an unseen handball, the Football Association of Ireland demanded a replay but that was turned down by FIFA and the French Football Federation even though Henry himself said he would be happy for the game to be played again. Fifa have now confirmed that Ireland have requested a place as an extra team. This situation has now given us the perfect argument for bringing in the use of video technology yet Fifa are still opposed to it and are now even considering using five match referees.

All this attention has now brought the sport of football and fair play into disrepute but it need never happened if football embraced technology in its sport. Given the major consequences of cheating, it is beyond belief to some that football cannot move with the times but why are FIFA so dead set against using video technology?

Some feel that FIFA is run by dinosaurs and that their views on the game and their refusal to embrace the technology that is available to them is outdated. Football is the world's No 1 sport and is watched by more people than any other all over the world and in the technology stakes is getting left behind by rugby union, rugby league, American Football and cricket.

If Thierry Henry failed a drugs test for a performance enhancing substance, he would get a long ban and his reputation would be in tatters and his international career finished. France could even get thrown out of the World Cup. Henry failed a basic honesty test and was found guilty of performance enhancing cheating. He will however get away with it completely scot free. The media storm in its wake will eventually die down and he will go on to captain France in South Africa.

Both these scenarios make a serious attack on the integrity of the game. However, football has strict punishments for drugs cheats but completely and openly ignores the other cheating that goes on.

As Managing Director Rob Dixon, has highlighted:

"Electrastar have installed data and fibre optic cabling at many stadia and sporting venues. The infrastructure is in place for anything from comms for commentary positions, CCTV for crowd control, advertising hoardings and state of the art scoreboard and video technology. Infrastructure issues should not create a barrier for bringing video technology into football".

In the World Cup Finals in 1986, England were famously sent crashing out of the tournament by the then best player in the world, Diego Maradona. Describing it as the "Hand of God", Maradona quickly became known as the biggest cheat in sport.

It seems that match officials and referees want to see video replays introduced, so do the players, managers, fans, pundits, commentators, everyone does, however, FIFA refuse to even listen. It can take just five seconds to come up with a decision so how can that damage the game.

The use of technology in sport is a controversial one and one which has made an impact on many sports in recent years. However, the major complaint against the use of technology is that it can slow down the speed of the game. Sports in the US have used instant replay and other systems for years to help referees make the right decisions. American Football uses video replay systems to check decisions. In Cricket, the umpires out on the field are in communication via wireless technology with the each other. The third umpire is also asked to adjudicate on run out decisions.

The one high profile sport that could benefit hugely from technology is football yet it is the one sport that has resisted its use the most. Replays could be used to decide off-side decisions, whether a ball passes over the goal line, and clarify penalty decisions.

Hawk-Eye Technology
Hawk-eye is the name of computer and camera technology designed to trace a ball's trajectory. Hawk Eye uses a camera taking 600 frames a second. The information is analysed by a computer and sent to the referee's comms. Currently used in cricket and tennis, other sports are also looking at using it. If used in football, at the very least, Hawk-eye would give a definitive decision on whether the ball had crossed the goal line. This technology could couple with the video ref as used in Rugby League.

Software
Software is now available extensively for fitness tracking, diets, nutrition, statistical reporting and many other applications. You can now purchase applications for ipods and other mobile devices that work using GPS to give you time, distance, pace, speed, running maps and training logs.

What People Are Saying:-

David Beckham
"I honestly didn't think Thierry meant it. I know him as a player and a person. He's a good person and a great player". "It's a shame to see Ireland go out because they have such great fans but these things happen in football. I really don't think he meant it. "I've had a few headlines in the past which have not been nice but I don't think he is a cheat."

Thierry Henry
"I'm not the referee . . . but if I hurt someone I'm sorry." When he was asked if he thought about quitting the French national side, he said "Oh yes. Friday, when it all went too far, I was very worked up. It's not the first time"

Roy Keane
Roy Keane is reported as saying that Ireland don't deserve a replay and also claimed Henry did not cheat

Dermot Ahern (Irish Justice Minister)
"They probably won't grant it [a replay] as we are minnows in world football but let's put them on the spot". "It's the least we owe the thousands of devastated young fans around the country. Otherwise, if that result remains, it reinforces the view that if you cheat you will win."