adminThe IFAB, comprising the four British associations and four members from Fifa, is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football
Uefa, a strong critic of bringing technology to the game of football, wanted the IFAB to postpone the expected decision today and start further debate on the matter, as they have been experimenting with a five-man refereeing team, including two assistants who stand behind the goal. The Michel Platini-led Uefa want IFAB to endorse their system at the same time delaying a decision on bringing technology to football.
An employee from the Uefa headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland fell short of pronouncing the pullout of the organisation in protest over the expected IFAB decision, something which will likely shape the future of world football, including the 2014 World Cup as Uefa has some of the most influential countries in terms of football. World and European Cups holders Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Italy,
France among others, are the powers of football on earth and their absence would affect whatever tournament Fifa would organise.
“It is common knowledge the Uefa is against technology and the worst might happen if the IFAB goes ahead with their position of bringing technology to the game,” said an official at the Uefa offices before asking for questions in writing.
Platini and crew are likely going to get support from the Third World countries who are not going to afford purchasing the equipment needed for the implementation of the new rule while failure to do so will also heavily affect the referees, clubs and even national teams when they take part in international competitions.
The debate about goalline technology has lasted for most of the last decade, but IFAB is expected to endorse two systems today — the Hawk-Eye and GoalRef systems — which have passed stringent tests to the satisfaction of the Board. The Hawk-Eye system is a British one based on cameras while GoalRef — a Danish-German development — uses magnetic fields.
Each system is required to send an immediate message to a watch worn by the referee within one second of the ball crossing the line. Any amendment to the law needs at least six of the eight members of IFAB.
“We have evaluated 1 000 matches at the highest level and Pierlugi Collina, (Uefa’s refereeing officer) showed us all the situations and benefits following three years of tests,” Uefa secretary-general Infantino told international media on Tuesday.
“The executive committee of Uefa unanimously agreed to issue a statement for full support for this system and to request to IFAB and Fifa to allow the five referees to officiate in the future.
“The results from these 1 000 matches were extremely positive and there was just one serious mistake. Unfortunately, it happened during these Euros as we all know, but there was unanimous support.
The one mistake came during Ukraine’s match with England when a shot from Marco Devic appeared to be over the line before being hooked clear by England’s John Terry.
Despite that, Platini said he remained opposed to using technology in the game.
“I am not just wholly against goalline technology, I am against technology itself because then it is going to invade every area of football. The goal between England and Ukraine — it was a goal, ok? — and it’s a mistake from the referee and he didn’t see it. But there was an offside before then so if they have given offside we wouldn’t have had the goal. So why don’t we have technology for offside decisions as well.
And what about Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986, why don’t we have technology to see if Maradona handled it? Where does it stop? It won’t stop. I am against technology itself.”
Online Reporter