Soccer's Big Brother
Daniel Wise
In the old days of soccer, referees had to purely judge the game on their ability to make split-second decisions among the chaos and violence of bodies clashing and a small, white and black ball flying through the air. Today it's a much different story. Cameras lined across stadiums record the action from myriad angles capturing every moment in HD and slow-motion. This new system is the encroaching eye of the sport, looming overhead. It is always aware, encompassing, watching. Fans are wary of its presence. Referees are befuddled by its complexity. Teams are incredibly frustrated every time the action stops so that Big Brother can decree what exactly happened. Is the implementation of this new technology a boon to the sport that helps officials make accurate decisions? Or is this forceful integration a sinister plot to kill the magic and drama of soccer.
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