Hockey is already a complex game to understand and enjoy. Ninety percent of spectators, officials, media and everyone connected with the sports will have no clue whatsoever on umpires’ decisions on the field.

Nine out of ten times the ball goes into the net is not a goal. Crowd often don’t know why a goal is not given, why it is not there despite the ball going into the net and the players enjoying it. Still the show goes on.

Both the sponsors of the world cup, Hero Honda and SAIL bring 20 boys and girls from a school. These kids don’t understand most of the rules, often their claps go waste. They are confused, one kid asked this writer to give one rule book copy to their class!

Now that the video refereeing, though a good step, adds another dimension to never ending saga of complexity.

Even the other side umpire does not know what the other umpire is doing.

The classic example to this was India – South Africa match played on Monday.

Even as South African team was demanding a penalty corner, the game went on, Indians scored a goal too. Umpire whistled for the goal. Crowd was on cloud nine. Because, India took the lead first time the match. The giant score board read, 3-2.

Then the other umpire called his colleague, they conferred, a video referral was made. We thought it’s about the goal just being scored. No, it was about what happened couple of minutes ago.

So, South Africa got a penalty corner, and they converted. So now the same score but in favour other team!

Now, tell me, how the crowd will understand the game?

Codification of Referrals is an urgent need if the good idea of referral is to be saved from disgrace