CHARLES D'SOUZA
MARGAO
Former national referee and AFC Match Commissioner Shirzad Bhathena has urged football fans, administrators and the media to view the FIFA World Cup with greater perspective, saying the tournament operates in a VUCA environment — one defined by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity — where perfection is impossible for anyone involved.
Commenting on the controversies that have dominated several World Cup matches, Bhathena said every stakeholder faces extraordinary pressure, making mistakes and differing opinions inevitable.
"The concept of VUCA is often associated with the corporate world. Yet few environments embody VUCA more vividly than the FIFA World Cup, where the stakes, scrutiny and emotions reach unparalleled levels," he said.
According to Bhathena, the expectations placed on players, coaches, administrators and referees are unrealistic given the magnitude of the tournament.
"Every stakeholder involved operates under immense pressure. From players chasing their first World Cup appearance to reigning champions defending their legacy; from coaches and administrators making critical decisions to match officials tasked with enforcing the Laws of the Game — each is expected to perform flawlessly in an environment where perfection is virtually impossible," he said.
Bhathena described the World Cup as an organisational marvel requiring meticulous planning across travel, security, technology, media operations, player welfare and fan engagement. Even with such preparation, he said, it is impossible to satisfy every stakeholder.
Reflecting on football's evolution, Bhathena noted that while technology has transformed the sport, controversy has remained a constant.
"Over more than a century of World Cup history, football has evolved dramatically. Yet one constant remains: conflict and controversy have always been part of the game," he said.
He pointed out that despite the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR), referees continue to attract criticism.
"Human judgement remains at the heart of football. Technology can assist, but it cannot eliminate debate. Every decision still requires interpretation, assessment and courage under pressure," he said.
Bhathena argued that technology has actually made refereeing more complex, as officials must now decide not only on incidents but also when and how technology should be used while balancing the letter and spirit of the Laws of the Game.
He also criticised the tendency to analyse decisions only after repeated television replays.
"Media discussions and post-match analyses often focus on isolated moments viewed repeatedly through the benefit of replays, multiple camera angles and endless hindsight. Rarely does the conversation fully reflect the VUCA conditions that existed throughout the ninety minutes of play," he said.
Using the recent Argentina-Egypt controversy as an example, Bhathena argued that if every World Cup match received the same microscopic scrutiny, countless incidents would become subjects of debate.
Instead of searching for someone to blame, he urged football to embrace a culture of learning.
"Every World Cup offers lessons for players, coaches, administrators, support staff and match officials alike. Accountability should be shared across all participants in the game," he said.
Bhathena also highlighted the demanding nature of officiating, noting that referees must maintain peak physical fitness, concentration and judgement while making split-second decisions under global scrutiny.
Summing up, he said football's greatest strength lies in its humanity.
"Constructive criticism is essential, but so too is perspective. The goal should not be to search endlessly for someone to blame, but to better understand the complexities of the game and contribute to making it stronger for future generations," he said.
"Because beyond every controversy lies a deeper reality: football, like life itself, will always be played in a VUCA world."
