Fergus, this does indeed belong below the line and I do not think any of us need to worrry about that. A moderator will soon spot it and down it will go.
I sincerely hope you enjoy your hurling match and indeed I would be glad if football fans always behaved with as much dignity and respect for each other. In actual fact, many of them do. I saw the unsavoury side of some travelling Man United fans earlier in the week, but no doubt others have seen the unsavoury side of the more boorish supporters of my team (Man City) at times too. On the other hand, MikeL2 and Cheshire Cat are both Man Utd fans and men whom I would wish to watch a game with and drink a couple of pints with afterwards too. They were both gracious in defeat two weeks ago when City progressed to the FA Cup Final - and I have no doubt that there are many of their ilk among the ranks of Man Utd fans. Football can and frequently does encapsulate all the virtues, which you identify with your chosen sport. I do not wish to rain on your parade so I am at a loss to see why you would wish to rain on ours.

Getting back to Mike's original post, I reluctantly concede he is right. The Luddite option of "Let's muddle through", will eventually be unsustainable in a society, which is in a position to see clearly (on occasion) when a mistake has been made. Anything less than making the best use of technology will reduce the credibilty of referees and indeed the whole of the game.
I do have a small reservation. In the World Cup, had Frank Lampard's goal been allowed against Germany, it may well have turned the game. Fortunately for football as a whole, it was disallowed, because it would have been a travesty had England escaped the thrashing, which they thoroughly deserved. By all accounts yesterday the right result was reached by two erroneous refereeing decisions. Refereeing mistakes do not always ultimately result in injustice!