Michel Platini reiterates goal-line technology stance

By Andrew Warshaw

December 9 – Michel Platini has once again emphasised his opposition to goal-line technology despite the FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, saying it could be in place by the start of next season – and almost certainly by the 2014 World Cup.

Platini is arguably the biggest voice against the introduction of scientific methods for checking whether the ball has crossed the line and the UEFA President will undoubtedly make it his business to try and block any implementation when the International FA Board, the game’s lawmakers, meet in London next March for what could be a pivotal ruling after years of delay.

Platini has long preferred his idea of two extra assistant assistants at the side of each goal, a format that has been trialled in the Champions League and Europa League and which he would like to see continued despite the obvious costs involved on a global basis.

Earlier this week, Blatter gave his backing to goal-line technology and said two of the nine systems being tested seemed now to be accurate enough. But Platini remains fiercely opposed and claims his solution – unlikely to be be used concurrently with goal-line technology – is far more practical.

Speaking after a UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Venice and in apparent disagreement with Blatter, Platini said: “We put extra human eyes to see if the ball has gone in.

“I like the five officials because it’s a human system.

“If you ask [UEFA] referees chief Pierluigi Collina, he will tell you that many good decisions have been taken that way.”

Referring to the two infamous cases during World Cup matches between England and Germany where an electronic aid would have helped, Platini said two rare incidents did not justify implementation: “I’m not sure technology is important in such cases.

“If you consider the World Cup in 2010 and 1966, that’s two cases.

“All that technology – to use it twice in 40 years?

“What worries me is that if we start to use technology for things that have little point, we will also move onto offside technology, because there are five offsides per match.

“The International Board will decide next year but I have the right to disagree and I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Platini also got involved in a spat with the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, over the credibility of the Europa League.

United’s shock Champions League exit has demoted them to Europe’s second tier competition for the rest of the season, described as embarrassing and humiliating by United’s players. Ferguson also undermined the Europa League when he said: “That [playing in the Europa League] is our penalty for not qualifying.”

But Platini responded: “The world does not revolve around England.

“The Europa League is a brilliant competition.”

“I like England a lot, its football is fantastic, its supporters are wonderful. But you shouldn’t criticise the Europa League just because you’ve played in three Champions League finals.”

“I know Mr Ferguson would have preferred to be in the Champions League but so would many clubs who don’t have that possibility.”

It is only the third time in 17 years that United have exited Europe’s elite club competition at the group stage and the first club to fall the season immediately after reaching the final.

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