Video referee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A video referee, also known as the instant replay official, television match official or third umpire, is a sports official called upon to help adjudicate a sports match using television footage. Video referees are used in many sports, including cricket, rugby union, rugby league and ice hockey. The role of the video referee differs varies, often they can only be called upon to adjudicate on specific events. Due to the cost of television cameras and other equipment needed for a video referee to function, most sports only employ them at a professional or top-class level.
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[edit] Cricket
In cricket, the video referee is referred to as the third umpire. The third umpire is called upon to adjudicate by the two on-field umpires where they are unsure over a decision of a dismissal or boundary.
[edit] Ice hockey
In ice hockey, the video referee is referred to as a Video Goal Judge.
[edit] Rugby league
Video referees are also used in rugby league in the domestic National Rugby League (Australia/New Zealand), Super League (Europe) as well as in international matches. In rugby league the video referee can be called upon by the match official to determine the outcome of a possible try. The "video ref" can make judgements on knock-ons, offside, obstructions, hold-ups and whether or not a player has gone dead, but is not allowed to rule on a forward pass. If a forward pass has gone un-noticed by the on-field officials it must be disregarded by the video ref. This is because in the opinion of people who aren't versed in the laws (therefore: armchair referees) forward passes are largely a judgement call, and due to the effects introduced by camera angles, such judgements cannot reliably be made. What people do not realise however, is that you do not watch the ball when making a decision on a pass. You watch the hands of the player.
[edit] Rugby union
In rugby union the video referee is officially referred to as the Television Match Official (TMO) and is used mainly in international and professional games. The TMO can only be used in the situation where the referee is unsure whether a try or goal attempt has been scored, or in the event of foul play in-goal.
