Premier League Chief executive Richard Scudamore has admitted that Goal-Line Technology is not going to be introduced until 2013 at the earliest. FIFA are set to make a decision next month regarding this much talked about issue
2 different methods are undergoing the testing process at the moment;GoalRef and Hawk-eye.
GoalRef is similar to the Cairos GLT system I have mentioned in a previous article, except they have put electronic probes in between the lining and the inner ball, which then react with sensors that are placed within the goal posts. This will send out a dopplar like electronic waves, straight to the referee. Which would actually be quicker than a linesman putting up his flag.
Hawk-Eye-I’ve previously mentioned is the usage of 6 cameras positioned at various angles which watches the ball cross the line and calculates whether it has happened. This system won’t however work if a goalkeeper lands on top of the ball. It also has a margin error of 3.6mm. It apparently can only be decided by FIFA’s testing office too which would have no effect on the referee’s decision. But the testing process might change this.
Out of the two, GoalRef is the best in my opinion because it allows the decision to be made right at the moment whereas the Hawk eye technology can only be decided after watching.
Either way though, the FA need to do everything they can to implement this as soon as possible. We have had too many wrong decisions this year and as one of the biggest sports in the world; we are far behind where this subject is concerned.
The longer the FA continue to dance around the issue, the worse their reputation will get. With just about everybody with any footballing sense crying out for the introduction of more technology in the game, it just doesn’t make sense for the FA to continue to adopt such a cautious, backwards approach. Surely it’s time to send out a real message and give referees the helping hand that they need? It really shouldn’t be postponed any longer.
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