In a development that is likely to interest all followers of the beautiful game, the Guardian has reported that FIFA’s first forays into examining goal-line technology has failed to produce a clear solution as to how to proceed.
The Guardian’s report states:
“FIFA’s plans to introduce goal-line technology have suffered a setback after every one of the 10 companies which took part in trials last week failed to meet the criteria set by the world game’s governing body.
As revealed in this column last month, firms expressing an interest in providing the technology were invited to Zurich to test their equipment in day-time and night-time conditions.
“A difficult environment probably contributed to the companies’ problems. The artificial pitch made matters tricky for those companies who would seek to run cables around the goal-mouth.
“The lack of a stadium and of a crowd, with thousands of fans carrying mobile phones, also made conditions unrealistic. Hawk-Eye, the most established technology having already conducted stadium testing at Reading, declined even to take part in apparent anticipation of the difficult environment.
“Companies had only a few months to strive for FIFA’s criteria – 100 per cent accuracy and relaying results back to the officials within one second – and it proved too exacting a task.
“But some influential individuals at FIFA still wish to launch the technology at a FIFA tournament before possible implementation at the 2014 World Cup.
“The results of the tests will go to the International Football Association Board meeting [at Celtic Manor on 5 March] and it will decide,” said a FIFA spokesman. But the game’s law-making body has previously opposed technology’s introduction.
“A proposal of the UEFA president, Michel Platini, for additional match officials, is also set to be discussed: it seems the best the inventors can hope for is a permit to carry on testing.”
The introduction of goal-line technology is an issue which FIFA has struggled with, in recent years, as it seeks to find a balance between ensuring that legitimate goals can be identified when missed by the on-field officials and the need to ensure the flow of the game is not unnecessarily disrupted.
The first step in seeking a solution is determining the capabilities of the technology.
But as the Guardian article suggests, the conditions imposed by FIFA were too restrictive for the testing to be considered an accurate reflection of the ability of the technology.
It is significant that the Hawk-Eye did not elect to take part in the trials.
The successful integration of technology to assist decision making in sports such as tennis and cricket is evidence that technology can play a role in eliminating human error.
FIFA has shied away from going down this path in the past and there continues to be doubt about the willingness of those at the higher levels of the organisation to fully explore the potential for goal-line technology.
Whether you support or oppose the introduction of goal-line technology, what is not in doubt is the need to ensure that when the time comes for a decision to be made, the evidence that is put in front of the decision-makers represents a full and frank testing of the technology outlining both the key strengths and weaknesses.
If this is not achieved, then Sepp Blatter will be doing a disservice to the first part of FIFA’s motto.
He will not have made the best decision “for the game” but rather one that best suits his personal preferences.
dasilva
Guest
Look I have the at most respect for what the referees do to the game and I support every attempt to stamp out dissent from players. Seriously everytime a team surrounds the referee , all the players involved with that should all get yellow cards. I honestly have no idea why people choose to referee as that means you go to work to be abuse by large amounts of people. I never get too angry at the referee when they make a mistake. However as much as respect their job, their performances are not part of the entertainment and I would like to see as little mistakes as possible. That's why I believe in video technology. Seriously I just see video technology as the referee asking their assistant, "What happened?". It's just so happen that the assistant is watching a TV screen as well.
KP
Guest
Referees who miss a goal are not the ref's that supporters hate so much. Its the refs that give silly fouls, dont give them at all, the refs that give three yellow cards before a red. Its a game that can be played in 1st or 3rd world countries, you just need a ball and 2 goals. I do find the people who complain about refs are those that have never referee'd before. And I'm not talking one match here and there, do a season, week in-week out, then see how much you abuse the guys in the middle.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Just get a video ref - and let him make the mistakes that seem so necessary.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Very well put dasilva the very best ref is the one you don't notice
Jeb
Guest
If you don't want the correct decision to be made and still hanker for human error with decision making then... you need to take a good hard look at yourself.
st penguin
Guest
I find the "human error is part of life" argument so lame. To take that argument further, why bother training referees at all? Refereeing is a very subjective job; however, there are certain elements - such as whether a ball crosses the goal line - that are straight forward and can be answered imediately by modern technology. It's 2011 for god's sake! The lack of goal line technology has allowed some disgraceful decisions in recent years. Let's give the refs a break and help them some proper assistance in this area. Funny how other sports (tennis, cricket, league) came up with the same arguments (but look at the NFL!) and have now realised it works.
dasilva
Guest
Managers and players performance and mistakes are part of the spectacle of the game Referees aren't We watch players playing and the coach doing his tactical work for entertainment I have never met a single person who go to a football match to be entertain by the performance of the referee. Not a single person has said I have a favorite referee and therefore I'm going to watch every match that referee adjudicates because I really enjoy seeing the referee make the right decisions. Referees should be treated as administrator. With respect but not part of the essential soul of the game and not part of the spectacle and we should make their jobs as easiest as possible. the performance of referees are generally ignored until they make a mistakes (similar to admin as well)
dasilva
Guest
Yep lets pretend we are interested in goal line technology and then design test to ensure we get the desired result
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
I know that Platini is dead set against doing anything that relies on new technology
hittingthevalve
Roar Guru
Morning fussball, I'm also a believer in keeping the game free of technology, but if this option is going to be explored, I think it needs to be given a fair go to succeed or fail on its own merits. Even if the way in which the trials have been designed has resulted in the outcome I want to see (no introduction of technology), if this this process has been unfairly set-up I wouldn't be completely comfortable with the outcome as it stands.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
We don't need goal line technology. Human error is part of life - players make mistakes, managers make mistakes and refs make mistakes. I'm pretty sure that at the u20FIFA WC later this year, FIFA will be introducing an official behind each goal - just as UEFA does in the UCL & Europa league. That's all you need.
Boman
Guest
Good, football is a game played by humans, for the enjoyment of humans and should remain adjudicated on by humans. Some decisions go your way and some don't, but it's all part of the game. If we let this in, then we'll start referring penalty claims, then offsides and before we know it, it's NFL. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.