Off the pitch… 

(Euro 2012)

With Richard Willcox

There’s no love lost between myself and Sepp Blatter, although I’m not sure he knows it. Today, the FIFA president has renewed his call for the introduction of goal-line technology after a controversial incident in England’s 1-0 win over Ukraine helped eliminate the co-hosts.

Where was he when Frank Lampard’s goal was not given when the ball was clearly a metre over the line against Germany in the last World Cup!?

Why did we go into this tournament with the system preferred by UEFA president, Michel Platini, with five match officials – none of which saw the ball clearly cross the line!?

Blatter took to Twitter last night to announce: “After last night’s match ‪#GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity,”

And can we clear one thing up with regards to this specific example…The goal the Ukraines scored was offside! Would goal-line technology have resulted in the correct decision being made? No. The goal would have been given, incorrectly, because the linesman failed to call the offside in the build-up to the game.

What would have happened if that goal had been given (incorrectly!?). Should technology only be used for the goal-line, or would replays be allowed for all incidents?

In 2010 Blatter apologized to the England FA over Lampard’s disallowed goal at a crucial point in the second-round tie when the score was all level at 2-2:

“It is obvious that after the experiences so far at this World Cup it would be a nonsense not to reopen the file on goal-line technology,” stated Blatter.

He also had to apologise to Mexico after Carlos Tevez’s offside goal was allowed to stand in Argentina’s 3-1 victory. The Tevez goal was replayed on the screens in the stadium, sparking angry clashes between officials and the Mexican players and coaches.

Blatter’s apology came less than four months after FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said the door was “closed” on goal-line technology and video replays after a vote by the IFAB. The decision was reached after watching presentations of two systems – Cairos, a microchip inserted in a ball, and Hawk-Eye, which is used in tennis and cricket.

In a statement on FIFA’s website after the verdict, Blatter argued that human errors were part of football’s appeal.

“The game must be played in the same way no matter where you are in the world,” he wrote. “The simplicity and universality of the game is one of the reasons for its success. No matter which technology is applied, at the end of the day a decision will have to be taken by a human being. This being the case, why remove the responsibility from the referee to give it to someone else?”

So having said that he’s changed his mind? Why are we still debating this two years later? Why are Blatter and Platini at odds? Sort it out.

What do you think about introducing goal-line technology and should it be limited to just the goal-line, or should it be extended to video-replays of all major incidents? Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts.