On the ball

The ball was over the line. Not even the most stubborn Manchester United fan disputes that. The question is: should referees have to use video replays when there are cries of injustice, as the FA now seems to believe? The answer is surely no. Although microchip technology might be a solution in the future, it is ultimately the responsibility of the referee and his assistants on the pitch to make a correct decision. If match officials are not up to the job, as the linesman in Tottenham's game on Tuesday clearly was not, they ought to be sacked by the FA. For now, the answer is not better technology, but better officials.