Time to Move Forward with Goal-line Technology

In 2005 in a match between Tottenham and Manchester United, Spurs midfielder Pedro Mendes hit a 40 yard strike at the Manchester goal. Manchester goalkeeper Roy Carroll fumbled the ball and a goal was scored. However, Spurs were not award the goal the officials failed to see the ball cross the line.  Replay indicated the ball crossed the line. This helped spark the debate over goal line technology and whether it should be used or not. I believe it is time to move forward as other sports have done and embrace technology as a tool to help officials with the matches.

I think the reason for embracing goal line technology is obvious too many poor decisions have been decided without the use of the technology. The greatest example to demonstrate the need for the technology was the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa. The best example to illustrate the point would be the England vs. Germany match held on June 27^th. Before halftime England’s Frank Lampard shot a goal that bounced off the crossbar and appeared to everyone to have crossed the line. However, none of the officials witnessed the goal and play continued. Instant replay clearly showed that Lampard’s shot did cross the line. This was critical because it would have leveled the match 2-2 and going into the halftime break would have changed the tactics of England. I am not saying England would have won the match but England manager Fabio Capello would have not employed the tactics that he did when they were 2-1 at the half. Events like this have a massive impact in any game or sport. It can change the whole momentum of a match, which I think it did.

In August 2009 in a match between Crystal Palace and Bristol City, Palace striker Freddie Spears shot a goal and crossed the line but also hit the stanchion under the net and the ball bounced out. The officials decided not to award the goal to the angry and frustration of Palace coach Neil Warnock. In another controversial goal that took place on April 30, 2011 between Tottenham and Chelsea was when Frank Lampard shot a goal and Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes fumbled the ball. It appeared Gomes had stopped the ball from crossing the line but the goal was awarded to Chelsea. Again, up further review on replay Gomes did stop the ball just in time from crossing the line. These are just a few examples of the problems developing from the lack of goal line technology. However, with the growing support among players, managers and fans it would seem obvious that technology would be in the future of football.  As of right now there have been many roadblocks to the idea of using goal line technology, starting with FIFA.

FIFA along with their president Sepp Blatter have been very hostile to the idea of using the technology. Citing it would disrupt the flow of the game and the technology itself isn’t completely fool proof. Blatter further states it would take the human element out of the game. He continues to state it takes the fun out of discussing the human errors/factors and debate of the game. Not convincing at all if you are a supporter of a club or a national team that has gotten the shaft. Pressure has been growing and it was decided to allow for limited use of goal line technology in junior competitions in 2007 in Peru.  Most of the trials for junior competitions in 2007 did not take place and by 2008 the idea had been dismissed.  Blatter was quoted in saying that it was only 95% accurate. In March 2010 the International Football Association Board voted to abandon the idea of goal line technology altogether. Why are FIFA afraid? The NHL, NFL, NCAA, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, Rugby Union, National Rugby Leagues (Australia and New Zealand), European Super League, cricket, tennis, and even rodeos are currently using technology sort out questionable decisions. The World Cup in South Africa in June 2010 seems to have changed the discussion and reopened the debate once again. It was shortly announced by Blatter that FIFA would reopen the topic concerning goal line technology due to incidents taking place during the World Cup.

The two main systems that FIFA is considering are Hawkeye developed by Roke Manor Research Limited based in England and Cairos GLT system, which has been proposed by Adidas. Hawkeye has been used in cricket and tennis competitions.  Hawkeye uses a triangulation system by placing cameras in appropriate areas on the field of play to monitor the matches. The idea would consist of placing about six cameras on the field to allow full coverage of the field. Critics of Hawkeye will say it is not real time so play would stop to review any decisions. Play is stop in soccer matches when players are injured or when substitutes are made and the time is just added on at the end. Time would only be stopped if there was a goal in question. I really don’t see this as an inconvenience to the flow of the game. Time is stopped in NFL and NHL games for example. Granted time is stopped a great deal in NFL games but hockey is fairly fast moving sport like soccer and has been successful. It seems more important to have right outcome of a game then to continue with the current system of only using human officials. More officials have been added to UEFA Champions League matches up to five from four and from what I have witness and read it hasn’t fixed the problem. Adidas have created and supplied the ball, which has been inserted with the microchip technology that would be used in the Carios system. The Carios system would have thin cables place underneath the plenty box behind the goal line with sensors placed in the ball and would generate a single when the ball is in the plenty box. Once the ball has crossed the goal line a single would be sent to the referee wearing a special device. The manufacturers claim it would take but a split second for the single to be sent to the official thus eliminate the need to stop play.

With the increasing competitive nature of soccer it makes sense to support goal line technology. For example, the English Premier League in the last couple of seasons has witnessed strong and contested battles for those critical spots in the Champions League and the league title race. As the league tightens every match counts and so do the goals scored. The same can be said of other leagues in the world. The game has changed and new competitive clubs are challenging the old guard. Like the saying goes, “On any given Sunday any team in the NFL can win.” That is the truest statement in professional sports today.

FIFA is an oligarchy riddled with corruption from top to bottom. Plus, I think FIFA fears losing control over the sport and the central authority they have created.  Blatter has admitted publicly that leagues who have introduced technology have changed the rules of the game as they go along. The loss of power and control, I believe is at the core of the problem.

Technology is a constantly changing thing in the world and every year things are getting better and smarter. I believe the arguments against using the goal line technology is from a generation that doesn’t embrace technology as an ally or a tool and FIFA along with Blatter are determined to separate themselves from the sports and leagues that have embraced the use of sports technology and want to remain aloof. In the end nothing is fool proof but I firmly believe in embracing the use of goal line technology for soccer to secure the correct outcome of matches.