Goal Line Technology in Football

Over the weekend I watched two different sports live on television. On Saturday morning I watched the English Premier League football clash between Bolton and QPR, and on Sunday afternoon I viewed the Six Nations rugby match between France and England. Both games had me enthralled and intrigued in equal measure.

The football match was a tense encounter between two teams fighting against the pitfall of relegation to the Championship. Neither team could afford to lose, and whoever did would face a large struggle to protect their Premier League status. It was a game where everyone had to be on top of their game, including those officiating. Unfortunately that was not the case.

With the match still scoreless, QPR were awarded a corner kick. Defender Clint Hill got the run on his marker and powered a header way beyond the goal line. Bolton keeper Bogdan flung himself behind his line and managed to get a forearm onto the ball, which then bounced clear of the goal via the crossbar. QPR players celebrated this crucial goal, but it was not to be. The linesman who was looking across the line in question said he could not see it. Within seconds the Sky cameras were showing replays which clearly displayed that the ball had crossed the line.

Bolton went on to win the game 2-1, leaving QPR floundering in the relegation zone. This decision had a clear impact on the outcome of the game. With the use of technology a goal could have been awarded in a matter of seconds. An incident like this would NOT have happened in a rugby match.

During the pulsating encounter between France and England there was an incident when French player Wesley Fofana went over for a try, with his feet teetering the touchline. The referee immediately asked the simple question to his video assistant, 'Is there any reason for me not to award a try?' The answer was no, you may award the try. Done. Cleared up. The correct decision established in a matter of seconds. Why hasn't this happened in football yet? Rugby has had this mechanism in place for years now. Cricket uses technology to obtain the correct decisions, tennis uses technology to obtain the correct decisions. So why does a sport with such a vast global appeal and audience not? It is ridiculous that football is being left behind by tennis, cricket, and rugby.

It's way out of line that we can't establish when it's over the line!