Now Blatter admits goalline technology is a 'necessity'
FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday declared goalline technology "a necessity" after Ukraine became the latest victims of its absence from the game.
The European Championship co-hosts were denied an equaliser in Tuesday night's 1-0 Group D defeat to England when officials failed to spot Marco Devic's shot had crossed the line.
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Blatter, who hopes to convince the game's rule-makers – the International Football Association Board – to give technology the green light, posted on Twitter: "After last night's match GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity."
Blatter became a convert to goalline technology after Frank Lampard was denied a legitimate goal in England's 2010 World Cup defeat to Germany.
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That failed to convince UEFA president Michel Platini – the favourite to succeed Blatter as the most powerful man in world football – who remained wedded to his belief additional assistant referees behind each goal was the best way forward.
Yet, Tuesday night's referee, assistant referee and additional assistant referee all failed to spot Devic's shot had crossed the line before John Terry's acrobatic clearance prevented it hitting the back of the net.
That left Platini red-faced after he made bold claims on the eve of the game about the effectiveness of five officials.
He told reporters in Warsaw: "With five, officials see everything. They don't take decisions without being fully aware.
"There's also a uniformity of refereeing. For example, they don't call unintentional handballs. That uniformity has led to more flowing football."
Platini also attempted to justify his opposition to goalline technology.
"Goalline technology isn't a problem," he said.
"The problem is the arrival of technology because, after, you'll need technology for deciding handballs and then for offside decisions and so on. It'll be like that forever and ever.
"It'll never stop. That's the problem I have."
However, the introduction of some form of goalline technology into football is now virtually inevitable.
IFAB are expected to approve at least one of two systems that have been subject to in-depth testing when they meet in Zurich on July 5.
Hawk-Eye, the camera-based system made famous after being successfully introduced to tennis, and GoalRef, which relies on a chip in the ball, were both selected for further tests at IFAB's meeting in March.
One of them could be introduced for the first time at December's FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
Comments
by westywardy
Thursday, June 21 2012, 4:17PM
“Funny i never heard him say anything after the Lampard "goal".”
by Kwacker
Thursday, June 21 2012, 4:08PM
“Funny that it's when England benefit from not having GLT they start to say we need it!!”
by Banjo9
Thursday, June 21 2012, 3:11PM
“Blatter and Platini = Anglophobia .............. they would fine the English for just being English ! and wearing a England Shirt LOL !”
by Banjo9
Thursday, June 21 2012, 3:09PM
“England”
by jceegas
Thursday, June 21 2012, 1:38PM
“said by a man who is corrupt as the day is long.........and today is a long day must have had a few quid on the draw unlucky stealth better”
by kwoodlad
Thursday, June 21 2012, 1:21PM
“Should help Bristol City concede fewer goals, not sure it will help them at the other end though, one presumes the ball has to get near the oppositions goal line for it to be beneficial?”
by escapingGAS
Thursday, June 21 2012, 11:36AM
“So another numpty going to replace the numpty already in charge at FIFA.
The goal that never was should not have even got that far had the offical running the line spot the offside from the start of the movement, and worse still La Platini actually played the wonderful game at international level but no mention of the original error being reported! So Messrs Blatter and Platini why not increase the already over staffed officialdom of the game from 5 to 7 and have a linesman (sorry linesperson) on both sides of the pitch. Then if no flags are raised then it's ok to play on, they both raise their flags it's definitely offside but if only one raises their flag then we have a review. Or better still just get on with the game!”