I've had a revelation. It happened late last Monday night on my way home from the BBC's studios in Newcastle.

All day "Stylesgate" had been raging. During the day I'd been on BBC Radio 5 Live's morning programme spouting my long held theory that video technology has no place in football.

My worry has always been escalation. You bring it in to establish whether or not a ball has crossed the goal-line, then all hell breaks loose; every penalty decision, every corner or goal-kick, every throw in, re-run. Before you know it, both sides are surrounding the fourth official and his TV monitor demanding he checks whether or not one of the mascots leading the teams out had a clean vest on.

Each incident runs up the seconds, games aren't finishing until half past six and none of us can get home in time to watch Match of the Day's analysis of what a pig's backside of a game the referee had (except of course he wouldn't have, because of video technology).

Callers rang in to disagree with me. I stood firm. But by half past ten, just as I was approaching Durham Services, I changed my mind. I think it was the sheer weight of human devastation that did it. The red half of Liverpool livid, officials making humiliating apologies and the man in black's own reputation in tatters

Rob Styles called that penalty as he saw it. I'm not quite sure from which angle that was from because his decision was appalling. But referees have been making equally bad decisions since the game began. The difference then was that only those who were at the game got to see them.

Now, before Styles has even had the chance to blow his whistle for the penalty kick to be taken, the world and his wife has seen the incident back in triplicate with knobs on. Most Premiership grounds even have monitors next to the dug-outs.

Hardly surprising then that Rafa Benitez has steam coming out of his bushy new beard, as he watches his team concede an equaliser he knows should not stand and is cheated of two points. Points that may well cost Liverpool the title or a Champions League place or Benitez his job.

All this resting on one man's view and a decision made in a split second.

A decision that could be reversed with a quick word in his ear and save his own career from the assassination Styles' has suffered over the last week.

Lives are being ruined by this. It's time to pass the pressure onto the fourth official and woe betide him if he gets it wrong

Mark Clemmit can be seen and heard most Monday evenings on BBC TV's Look North reviewing the weekend's local football action and on BBC Radio 5 Live looking back on what's been happening in the Coca-Cola Leagues.