FIFA to Study Goal-Line Proposals

After several years of resisting the implementation of goal line technology, FIFA finally will study 13 different proposals to end years of goal-line controversies. The decision to study the goal line technologies was taken on Monday by the World Football governing body in Zurich.

The technologies will be discussed on October 20 by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is responsible for rule changes in the game. The meeting to be held in New Port, Wales, will look at models such as camera based hawk-eye used in cricket and tennis, using chip in the ball which will alert the referee as soon as the ball cross the line or deploying an extra official behind the goal. However all the thirteen proposals submitted has not been revealed.

Pressure to implement goal line technology intensified after England’s Frank Lampard was denied a goal in the S.Africa World Cup, which result in England being knocked out of the tournament.

Commenting on the decision, FIFA President Sepp Blater said "I have said if we have an accurate and simple system then we will implement (it), but so far we have not had a simple, or an accurate system."

However FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said that “FIFA would seek to create a system that could alert the referee as soon as the ball crosses the goalline, for example via a transmitter on his watch".

The IFAB, which determines the rules of the game, however will take no decision on the issue until the IFAB general assembly on March 4, 5 and 6, to be held in Cardiff next year. IFAB comprises the associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, plus FIFA representing the other 204 football nations. Any rule changes would need a 75-per-cent vote in favour.

With such blunders often happening and with technology to measure accuracy being available, it’s time that FIFA consider implementing it to make FIFA fair play more fair.