Squash To Trial Video Replays For Referees At Canary Wharf Classic

Organisers of the ISS Canary Wharf Classic are planning a major initiative for the sport with the trial of video replays for referees.

The speed of the game can often lead to volatile clashes between players and officials but now technology is at hand to solve any problems and remove such confrontations from the sport.

Extensive tests will be run during the tournament, which takes place at the East Wintergarden at Canary Wharf from March 14-18 and features eight of the world's leading 11 players. The tests will go "live" in actual match play on the Wednesday (March 16) featuring all four fixtures on that evening's schedule.

The project is being developed by Horizon Software, who are technology partners for many leading sports events in the UK and worldwide.

Fittingly, one of the stars competing at Canary Wharf is the controversial Canadian Jonathon Power, the great showman of squash who is renowned for his colourful clashes with officials.

Former world champion Peter Nicol, who is one of the event co-promoters and who meets his great rival Power in the tournament's opening match on Monday March 14, backed the move.

He said: "We all know that squash referees have a difficult time simply because of the speed of the game. For example, there is an average time of something like 1.5 seconds between shots, often even less at the top level if players are taking the ball early and volleying.

"However, the technology is there to help match officials in squash, just as it does in other sports like cricket and rugby. Having the benefit of video replays can help to avoid unpleasant disagreements between players and referees, and if the replay is shown on giant screens then it can add to the visual appeal for spectators.

"Although this is just a trial the players are all excited by it. All sports have to adapt as the years go by and squash is no exception. What this really shows is how tough a job the referees have in squash."

The move comes at a time when football and rugby union are embroiled in controversy about the use of video replays. England claimed they were robbed of victory in Sunday's Six Nations rugby clash with Ireland because of incidents that would have been spotted by the TV official, who was not called upon to act by the referee.

In football, a variety of trials are being planned to avoid a repeat of an incident in the recent match between Manchester United and Tottenham, when a Spurs shot was clearly over the line before being clawed away by goalkeeper Roy Carroll.