A bright new season and  age old problems with referees making some grave errors of judgement. Games at Sheffield United, Everton, Bolton, Reading. Portsmouth and Manchester City have thrown up controversy putting officials in the spotlight. But the game itself must harbour some of the blame as it drags its heels in refusing to embrace technology that is available. Other sports have been able to accommodate technology and have indeed benefited from it – both rugby codes, cricket, tennis and even beach volleyball are using technology to ensure that referees and umpires make the correct decision more times than not. However, even with this aid, they are not infallible as has been shown in some high profile rugby international games.

Controversial decisions make sport interesting. But it is unsatisfactory to simply say that it is part of the game and such events even themselves out over the course of a season. With so much at stake in modern sport, nothing is left to chance – training methods, kit, equipment, tactics, preparation, diet have all been improved over the years – but little action has been taken to assist the referees in their decision making.

It was at the FA Cup Final between Sheffield United and Spurs at Crystal Palace back in 1901 that cameras were used for the first time. The Spurs goalkeeper had fumbled the ball and allowed it to roll behind him, the ball hadn’t actually crossed the line for the goal that the referee had awarded to Sheffield United. Due to that decision the game went to a replay and non-League Spurs triumphed in the end.

The great Leeds United team of the 1970s were deprived of the league title when they lost a vital game at home to West Bromwich Albion through a clearly offside goal. Albion won the match 2-1, but their second goal caused great controversy, with Tony Brown standing in an offside position a few yards from the ball and referee Ray Tinkler overruling the linesman's raised flag to let play continue, and the consequent goal to stand. 

Cameras are available at nearly every top class game which could be very useful to advise him on potentially controversial decisions or to inform him on incidents which have occurred behind his back. The argument against such assistance is the matter of time – it would take too long and break up the flow of the game but such waiting time would surely be preferential to the unseemly sight of players arguing and jostling officials over controversial decisions. In addition, in many games the official may have nothing to officiate on, while in others he could give a response almost instantly having watched the incident on screen or after seeing a replay.

Golf has its own self-regulating rules where players immediately indicate if they have committed a foul stroke and then take the appropriate penalty. Football is not like that with players appealing for every throw in and corner, so it is not easy for the referee when he is put under such constant pressure and mistakes are bound to happen as they are only human. Therefore, the official with the view from the cameras could ease the pressure on the referee and prevent him from being pressurised by the players during the game and then expected to justify his decisions to the media afterwards. Such an official would have saved Graham Poll from the embarrassment of his three yellow cards during the World Cup.