Goal-Line Technology Approved For The Premier League

The English Premier League has finally agreed to use goal-line technology from the start of the 2013-14 season, which will remove any uncertainty whether the ball has crossed the goal line, and help officials make the correct decision as to whether a goal should be awarded or not. The debate about using the technology has raged for many years, with many high profile figures within the game campaigning for and others contesting the need for such technology.

The main arguments against installing goal line technology was that the natural flow of a game would be disrupted, uncertainty as to whether the technology would be accurate enough and whether the expense of such a venture could be justified for apparatus that would be seldom used.

Football's governing body FIFA had always resisted the calls for goal line monitoring equipment but agreed to review its stance following Frank Lampard's disallowed goal, which was seen to clearly cross the goal line, during England's game against Germany in the 2010 World Cup. There have been several notable instances in various football matches over recent years when perfectly good goals have been disallowed and later shown by television replays that the ball had crossed the goal line and the goal should have been allowed.

Some believed that introducing such technology was a challenge to the role of the match officials but the idea has now been embraced as an aid to their decision making. Human error has always been a feature of football and although research has shown that top level referees make the right decision ninety five percent of the time the technology is now being seen as a positive way forward.

Several other sports have benefited from the use of technology, notably tennis and cricket which have successfully used Hawk-Eye ball tracking technology for a number of years. The same firm will provide the technology for the twenty Premier League teams which will consist of seven cameras positioned strategically for each goal to detect whether the ball has actually crossed the goal line, within one second a message will be sent to the referee's watch confirming the goal, reducing fears that such technology would cause delays during the game. It is claimed that the equipment is accurate to within one millimeter and will also be able to provide definitive replays for television companies which will settle any argument or debate.

Although the incidents of disputed goals are quite infrequent they can prove highly controversial and in a multi million pound industry, very expensive. The agreement for the use of goal line technology is unlikely at this stage to spark the start of a technological revolution, such as using video evidence for off-side decisions and other contentious decisions, but football's governing body FIFA insist this will not happen. Video evidence is currently used in high profile rugby matches and has proved crucial in determining key decisions during the game, however, many within football believe the use of video evidence would cause too much disruption to the natural flow of the game.

Steve Goodwin is a football fan and author and enjoys the opportunity to combine his two passions. Steve also collects Football Gifts from his favorite teams.