CMV: Video review in professional sports (e.g NFL, NHL) do not benefit the game.

As a sports fan I am consistently annoyed by video reviews. This is in part to the fact that they break up the play of the game but also because I don't think the reviews are benefiting the game.

I think a lot of people share my first complaint. Especially in the NFL video reviews are very common and can stretch on for several minutes. While sometimes the review can be entertaining itself mostly they increase the non playing time and disrupt the flow of the game. People put up with this because they believe it is a sacrifice for the betterment of the game.

Now lets look at if the reviews really benefit the game.

In my opinion many rules in sports do not represent the spirit of the game. When a sports league is created it makes sense to have a unified set of rules so everyone knows what is allowed and how the game is to be played. This results in standards that are very specific and not necessary for the sport to function almost identically. For example the width of an NFL field is 160 feet, would many people notice if a difference if the field became 161 feet wide next season? I wouldn't imagine they would but we have to stop the game if we think a player may have had a toe out of bounds.

I think it is a classic example of not seeing the forest for the trees. Rules are enforced on technicalities that really have nothing to do with the game. I'm not advocating for the change of any rules just that I don't like a review to check technicalities.

I am also aware that sports are not getting rid of video reviews anytime soon. We live in a time where millions of people see the replays from the optimal angles in slow motion and it will be hard to placate the fans when calls go against their team. However I would like to believe that my time isn't being wasted and reviews benefit the game.

( If you are going to use examples provide the sport and league, I'm most familiar with the big North American sports leagues but will definitely listen to examples about others)

Edit: I concede that most fans like video review because they don't like bad calls, I don't get as upset with them as most. If there was a sports league with no spectators how would a video review system benefit the sport itself, by either eliminating a systematic error in the game or changing how the game is played (etc.)

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