GOONERSGUIDE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS SECTION

This is our Champions League news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

Champions League News :: UEFA admit getting Arsenal's Eduardo diving case all wrong

Posted on 2009-09-15 by Gooner

Hidden on UEFA's website today was a small three paragraph item that basically admitted that the official handling of the Eduardo case was flawed - and also probably biased.

It said :

The UEFA Appeals Body today accepted the appeal lodged by Arsenal FC against the two-match suspension handed to striker Eduardo.

Following examination of all the evidence, notably the declarations of both the referee and the referees' assessor, as well as the various video footage, it was not established to the panel's satisfaction that the referee had been deceived in taking his decision on the penalty.

Therefore, the decision of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body of 1 September, in which the player was suspended for two UEFA club competition matches, is annulled.

Simulation - if it could have been proved - is only a yellow card offence not a two match ban. Arsenal's video evidence show contact between the player and the goalkeeper.

Every weekend we see players dive (ahem) go to ground rather easily in order to win penalties without any further comment or action.

It was apparent that UEFA got carried away with the Scottish FA's baying for a specific witch hunt, without looking at the evidence and without thinking through the precedent that they were setting.

That being said - I think that EVERY football fan is all for UEFA deciding to implement some sort of TV replay system for major football events in big games that helps the referee AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT to make the right call.

World cup, Euro2012, Champions League, and top domestic football should all use the technology where available.

Saying that "it all evens out eventually" is not accurate, nor is it good enough where there is a solution that has been used in tennis, rugby, and several US sports.

Football is a high level, highly professional sport, that is covered by a multitude of cameras at the top level, and FIFA and UEFA need to embrace this technology to get the key decisions right - or at least as correct as TV replays allow.

That would not replace the referee - it would empower the referee to know that KEY decisions are absolutely correct!

Sourced From : UEFA.com

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