UEFA President Platini slams goal-line technology as "nonsense"

By Andrew Warshaw

February 27 – UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has racked up the anticipation ahead of next weekend’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting by once again slamming the idea of goal-line technology, this time describing it as “nonsense”.

Football’s lawmakers are due to take a landmark ruling on whether to give goal-line technology the green light, in principle at least, at their annual meeting on March 3 but Platini, who has long been opposed to the concept, is likely to fight it tooth and nail.

“Football is the most popular sport in the world because it has simple rules which work everywhere,” Platini said in an interview a German newspaper.

“I consider it nonsense to upset the applecart.”

He reiterated his view that using electronic aids to check whether the ball has crossed the line will simply open the floodgates to a spate of other controversial incidents.

“When I introduce a camera to keep the goals under surveillance I also need one for the surveillance of offside,” said Platini.

“There are 10 offsides per game.

“But a goal like that of the English at the 2010 World Cup against Germany, which was wrongly not given, happens only once every few years.”

Platini does not have a vote per se at the IFAB meeting, comprising FIFA and the four British national associations, but his opinion carries considerable weight – even though it is in direct opposition to that of FIFA President Sepp Blatter who would like to see goal-line technology in place by the 2014 World Cup.

The Frenchman conceded he had little hope of changing Blatter’s mind, with the final verdict due next summer, but is expected to push for the alternative system of extra assistant referees already used in this season’s European club competitions.

“We are very satisfied,” Platini insisted.

“It is always better to use humans who can judge a situation, such as handling the ball, than to install complicated technology.”

Platini is widely expected to take over from Blatter (pictured right) when the latter’s final term ends in 2015.

He has steadfastly refused to confirm that but believes Blatter must live up to his reform programmes.

“Change must always come from the President,” Platini said.

“Blatter has said he wants to make changes: fight corruption and change the statutes.

“But I believe it depends on the President.

“We have the same structures at UEFA.

“Is anyone talking about corruption?

“No.

“We will see whether it works out.

“If not, we will have to wait until a new President is elected.

“But that won’t be until 2015.”

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