Referees' leader backs goalline technology
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The issue has again resurfaced after the Middlesbrough defender Chris Riggott was deemed to have scored an own goal against West Ham on Sunday when the goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer appeared to have kept it out. Middlesbrough went on to lose 2-1.
The call for video replay for goalline decisions has increased over the past year after controversial incidents involving Roy Carroll and Luis Garcia. Carroll, then at Manchester United, escaped after dropping the ball over the line in a match against Tottenham and Liverpool's Garcia was awarded a contentious winner in the Champions' League semi-final against Chelsea.
Hackett, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Official Board, said: "I'd love to see some technology to assist us with goalline decisions. The general feeling in football is that technology, if it was available, would assist.
"The governing body [Fifa] is reluctant to introduce any form of video technology and is concentrating more on goalline technology with a chip inserted into the ball which sends out a signal. I am in the hands - like all of football - of Fifa, who are spending a great amount of time and effort in terms of this chip in the ball to try to introduce it as quickly as possible to the top-level game."
The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, admitted this month that tests held at the Under-17 World Championship in Peru had been inconclusive, but revealed that if the technology proves successful in the World Club Championship in Japan in December, next year's World Cup in Germany could benefit.
Steve McClaren, the Middlesbrough manager, insisted the technology be introduced after the weekend's controversy and won support from the Hammers' manager, Alan Pardew.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments