Cisse heading in the 50th minute of the premiership match between Newcastle and Manchester United on Sunday, October 6, 2012 could have earned Newcastle 1-2 and closed the space of recovery, but the referee nullified it and the game ended in 1-3 in favour of Man Utd.
This takes me back to David Dein, former FA and Arsenal Football Club Vice-Chairman’s video presentation during the Soccerex event in Lagos that showed some errors referees make when trying to judge complicated matters in a football game – this encouraged FIFA to make the decision of introducing Goal-line Technology.
Technology is known for correcting human errors and it seems people rely on it more than their fellow human. So, this time, technology will limit our arguments in football with Goal-line Technology.
What is Goal-Line Technology?
In association football, goal-line technology is a technology which determines when the ball has completely crossed the goal line, assisting the referee in calling a goal or not. In the wake of controversial calls made in the Premier League, 2010 World Cup and the Euro 2012, FIFA (previously against the technology) is testing potential candidates for goal-line technology. Nine systems were initially tested, but only two remain. – Wikipedia
Here is an exclusive Q&A session on Goal-line Technology from BBC Sport
After years of debate, is goal-line technology going to be introduced at all matches?
The International Football Association Board voted unanimously in favour of introducing the technology, leaving it up to individual associations to decide whether to implement it into their respective competitions.
FIFA used to be against it, so what changed?
FIFA dropped its long-standing opposition to its introduction in 2010 following Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany at the World Cup in South Africa. His shot hit the bar and bounced down over the line, but a goal was not given by officials. FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, apologised to the English Football Association (FA) after the incident.
Speaking to BBC Sport this week, Blatter said: “That was the moment for me to say: ‘You can’t afford for something similar to happen in the next World Cup.’ We could say it is a historic day for international football.”
So once FIFA changed its stance, how did it go about finding a suitable system?
Eight systems were initially tested by an independent body. Each company had to demonstrate their technology adhered to FIFA benchmarks. These included notification of a goal being sent to the referee’s watch within one second of the ball crossing the line and strict standards on accuracy. Two companies proceeded to the second phase of testing.
GoalRef and British-based Hawk-Eye were tested again to check their accuracy in “real-world” scenarios – including in poor weather conditions – while floodlights are being used and when players are moving or standing close to the goal posts. They were both successful.
Tell me more about the two systems that have been approved.
Hawk-Eye’s system uses six cameras, focusing on each goal, to track the ball on the pitch. The system’s software uses “triangulation” to pinpoint the exact location of the ball. If it crosses the goal-line, an encrypted radio signal is sent to the referee’s wristwatch to indicate a goal has been scored. The whole process takes less than a second to complete.
GoalRef uses a microchip implanted in the ball and the use of low magnetic waves around the goal. The system then detects any change in the magnetic field on or behind the goal-line to determine if a goal has been scored. The process takes less than one second, with the result electronically relayed to the referee.
So two companies have been approved – what happens now?
The technology will first be used at December’s FIFA Club World Cup and, if successful, at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup.
The Premier League wants to use it “as soon as practically possible”. It will decide, through consultation with member clubs, its preferred system and then make a decision about cost and when to implement it. The Football League will also discuss the matter with its 72 clubs.
Read the full Question and Answer.
[image via Flickr/ gordon2208, tubb]
