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Pros & Cons of video replay in the MLS

By Niko Moniz

May 6, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando City SC midfielder Cristian Higuita (7) is called for a red card against New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan (16) during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Orlando City SC and the New York Red Bulls played to a 1-1 tie. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando City SC midfielder Cristian Higuita (7) is called for a red card against New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan (16) during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Orlando City SC and the New York Red Bulls played to a 1-1 tie. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL has the challenge flag, in the NHL and the NBA the referee has the ability to review important plays, and more recently in the MLB they are now allowing coach’s to challenge a ruling. Now the MLS will be eventually implementing there own form of video review during games to aid the refs decision on important plays.

The MLS will be one of six leagues to test out FIFA’s new Video Assistant Referee Project. What this will do is give referees a chance to review four types of plays during the game: goals, penalty decisions, direct red card incidents, and mistaken identity. The MLS will be testing this program in certain USL games played in MLS venues over the summer which will help them in creating and implementing a plan to use this program in actual MLS games.

People are already complaining that reviewing plays in soccer is just going to lead to a lot of wasted time and will damage the flow of the game, however there are others intrigued by video review as the chance of an incorrect call is now reduced greatly. With that in mind lets take a look at some of the pros and cons of video review in soccer.

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Pros

Nothing is worse than having an incorrect call made by a referee that either awards the other team a chance at goal or takes away a goal from your team. Video replay is a way to make sure that these crucial calls will be made correctly from now on. The other major plus from having video review is in the case where there is a scrum between the teams, or if two players are interacting away from the referees line of sight, then video replay can be used to ensure that the proper punishments are handed out to the proper players.

Cons

It will disrupt the flow of the game in a big way. Soccer does not stop time so having a delay to take a look at the video review will take a lot of time off the clock and even though it can be added back at the end of the half it will disrupt the flow of the game in a big way. Also, with video review in place to bail the referee out there could be instances where refs are not as motivated to make sure they are in the right position to make a certain call because they know they have video review to correct it. The issue of becoming too reliant on video review is also something that could happen as well with coach’s wanting every foul in the box to be reviewed or every direct red card to be reviewed, as this will lead to a lot more delays.

May 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen (right) argues with referee Allen Chapman (left) against New York City FC in the second half at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. New York City FC won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen (right) argues with referee Allen Chapman (left) against New York City FC in the second half at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. New York City FC won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

With the testing of this software happening I am positive that it will only be implemented if the MLS can find a way to use it effectively and efficiently so that delays in the game will be as minimal as possible. What do you think about video review coming the MLS? Sound off in the comments below with your opinions on the topic.

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