While England's disallowed goal during their crucial match against Germany during last year's World Cup is now far from the hearts and minds of the Three Lions faithful, cue leading Premier League referee Howard Webb to rehash old graves all over again with his recent statements concerning technology in football.
Premier League Referee Howard Webb Open To Goal-Line Technology
Webb, who was in charge of the minefield that was the World Cup final at Soccer City in Johannesburg, recently spoke to the BBC in support of any technology that would help improve football.
“It’s got to be worth looking at to make our job on those really crucial decisions that bit easier. I don’t think you’ll find many referees who say ‘it’s not something we want’. But it’s difficult to do”.
But while FIFA swears to Zurich and back that they’ve re-opened discussions on the implementation of video and or goal-line technology in football, there remains some very strong opposition to technology emanating from certain sectors.
Webb, while sometimes mired in controversy, is usually respected and is widely considered to be England’s top official. To further prove his competency, Webb continued to elaborate to the BBC by speaking quite bluntly on the matter concerning the game’s most important factor.
“It’s a matter of fact whether or not all of the ball has crossed all of the goal-line between the posts and under the crossbar. Bearing in mind that’s the entire aim of the sport, to score a goal. If we were to have some support - some assistance that was totally accurate and totally reliable - and instantaneous, then I guess it’s got to be worth looking at”.
While no one expects football to turn into ‘Playstation football’ as UEFA President Michel Platini seems to think it could, many football fans simply wish to see the big calls in important matches called correctly. As 2011’s head begins to emerge from the womb of 2010, football is one of a few major sports in the world that hasn’t embraced some form of technology.
If FIFA is to be believed, the top minds in the game are currently working on a fix to the problem. In fact, the International Football Association Board, or IFAB (the group who determine the rules of the game) will report to FIFA in March after a short period of goal-line technology testing.
But while level-headed football folk realize the complexity of the issue, the potential implementation of said technology now becomes more about the track record of FIFA in producing the goods on relevant issues as opposed to the findings of the IFAB. After all, FIFA get the final say. Translation? Progressive and forward thinking football fans, don’t hold your breath.
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