Collina shuns goalline technology over Platini's AAR theory

By Andrew Warshaw at the Leaders in Football Conference in London

October 6 – Pierluigi Collina, widely regarded as the world’s most respected referee until his retirement six years ago, insists there is no need for goalline technology in football and that the use of two Additional Assistant Referees (AAR) is more than sufficient to deal with controversial incidents.

Collina, who now plays a prominent role at UEFA, told the Leaders in Football conference here that goalline technology was not necessarily the best way forward despite ongoing tests being carried out with a view to introducing some kind of scientific system for determining whether the ball has crossed the line before the 2014 World Cup.

“The technological experiment hasn’t found the solution and the human experiment has,” said Collina.

“I think the goalline can be easily controlled by two additional assistant referees.”

The use of additional officials, being trialled in the Champions and Europa League, are the brainchild of the UEFA President Michel Platini who has been a constant opponent of technology.

Collina said that although extra assistants were rarely seen by the public to be influencing contentious decisions, they were in fact wired up for constant dialogue with the referee during games.

Mistakes had been made but only because referees had not yet got used to taking advice.

“We had big mistakes last year, not because the assistant referee didn’t help the referee.

“He gave the correct advice, but simply the referee thought he was right.

“The AAR’s may not make any signals but they are very active.”

The English FA referees’ committee chairman, David Elleray, did back the use of technology but not for non-goalline incidents.

“My concern about technology beyond goalline is that football is not a stop-start sport,” he said.

Collina was also keen to emphasise the repercussions of match fixing and illegal betting which UEFA is targeting heavily and which again came to the fore following the sensational allegations regarding members of Wayne Rooney’s family.

“We are speaking about the future of football,” Collina said.

“The day football is not trusted any more, we can all go fishing.

“Then it’s over forever.”

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