Sunday 7 March 2010

Goal-line technology

Yesterday the International Football Association Board met to discuss goal-line technology and decided they wouldn't pursue the idea any further- the door is now closed.

I personally believe this is ludicrous. So what's Sepp Blatter's alternative? Extra officials? This has been trialled in the Europa League this season and their hasn't exactly been an overwhelming response in favour of it. To be honest, I don't remember anyone other than Blatter and Michel Platini coming out in support of the idea.

It seems ironic to me that only a couple of hours later during Portsmouth's 2-0 win over Birmingham in the FA Cup quarter-finals Liam Ridgewell's goal was not given despite replays showing the ball had crossed the line. How would officials have access to these replays? Goal-line technology. To me, it's simple common sense.

As Portsmouth were 2-0 up at the time and Ridgewell's 'goal' was scored very late in the game, it's unlikely it had any affect on the result, but what if something similar happened when Manchester United and Chelsea meet in the Premier League next month with the score at 1-1. That decision could change the destiny of the title.