FIFA president Sepp Blatter has in the wake of the controversy involved in England’s victory over Ukraine announced goalline technology is now a ‘necessity’.
The head of world football’s governing body has in the past been resistant to the idea of introducing any such computerised systems to the game.
But after an effort from Ukraine’s Marko Devic clearly crossed the goalline against England on Tuesday night but was not spotted by officials, Blatter accepts there is no debate.
Even an additional referee on the byline failed to spot Devic’s shot should have been ruled as a goal, which left Ukraine manager Oleg Blokhin irate.
And Blatter has now said on his official Twitter account: “After last night’s match #GLT (goalline technology) is no longer an alternative but a necessity.”
The demand from England for goalline technology reached fever pitch in the summer of 2010 when Frank Lampard was not awarded with a goal against Germany at the World Cup.
Comprehensive
England trailed 2-1 in their second-round match when the Chelsea midfielder’s 20-yard shot beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, hit the underside of the bar and bounced clearly over the line.
The ‘goal’ was not given and Germany went on to claim a comprehensive 4-1 victory to knock England out of the tournament.
UEFA’s five-official system, which is preferred by president Michel Platini as an alternative to goalline technology, is currently on trial at Euro 2012.
Two linesmen and two additional assistants, who stay close to each goal to help decide if the ball crosses the line and to spot possible fouls, are in theory assisting referees.
But the failure of the assistant to spot Devic’s ‘goal’ has added further weight to the argument for essential technology.
FIFA will decide on 5th July whether to approve the five-official system and two goalline technology systems currently being tested in England and Denmark.
The Hawk-Eye system, which is used in tennis, was trialled at England’s friendly against Belgium at Wembley before Euro 2012.
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