Why Technology will Ruin the Game

For once, I’m with Sepp Blatter. I do realise this could have serious consequences for my ‘street-cred’, but although I’m compelled to dislike this bald little man in all other respects, I cannot hide my satisfaction with his efforts to prevent the introduction of goal-line technology. Before you spit out whatever it is you’re chomping on, hear me out…

Last week, the diminutive Swiss FIFA president finally gave what looked like a go-ahead for goal-line technology. I should say at this point that it’s unclear as to the extent that he has actually stood in its way, but if we are to believe our good, honest, British press, Blatter has been fighting tooth and nail to obstruct anything that might help England win the World Cup since his inauguration as president.

It’s true, however, that after high-profile refereeing blunders involving England or English Clubs, the FIFA president seems to have moved quickly to thwart knee-jerk reactions. Even after Frank Lampard’s “equaliser” against Germany in last year’s World Cup, Blatter refused to give way, whether out of sheer stubbornness, or because of constant media hounding. His attempts to placate an angry mob of newspaper journalists usually involve the same three arguments.

1. FIFA will improve the standard of officiating rather than introducing technology

2. Technology cannot always ensure a correct decision and will slow down the game

3. Technology takes the human element from the game.

Let me make it clear that I find the first two utterly preposterous. The standard of refereeing cannot and will not be improved, and technology, especially goal-line technology using a simple chip in the ball to determine its position, DOES have to power to provide a definitive, instantaneous answer.

But when Blatter says he wants to keep football as a game for ‘human beings’, he most certainly has a point. I won’t pretend to be the first person to agree on this issue, but I will attempt to explain, in a nutshell, with the intention that I might convince you, the reader, more easily than Blatter might.

Ignoring the ridiculous introduction of by-line officials, football is a game of 25 men, not 22. Referees and linesmen are as much a part it as a goalkeeper, and have been for a very long time. Yes, sometimes they make persistent mistakes which have us questioning their neutrality (hello, Howard Webb), but haven’t they always made mistakes? Were they not making mistakes when you first began watching football? Have you really been betrayed?

Let’s say we replace officials with technology. What on earth would we have to talk about? I understand that football is a big business now, and jobs often depend on correct decisions. But by removing controversy, you remove interest, and without that interest the jobs wouldn’t exist!

It’s the excitement induced by Geoff Hurst’s second in the ’66 final, it’s the furore caused by Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’, it’s the pleasure in seeing South Korea reach the World Cup Semi-Finals – this is what captures the imagination. These are the stories that sell. So you see, without wrong decisions, football would lose that magic.

As a Spurs fan, I have good reason to grumble about goal-line technology. Remember Pedro Mendes, halfway line, Old Trafford, 89^th minute, 0-0, a rippling net? I still like to pretend we won on that fateful January night in 2005. But the truth is, if Rob Lewis had been to Specsavers that week, and if Lampard’s Bloemfontein ‘goal’ had been given, we wouldn’t have an excuse for our woefully inadequate football teams.

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