By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – UEFA president Michel Platini is reluctantly considering staging a u-turn over goal-line technology for the 2016 European Championship finals – even though he still opposes the system.
Platini says that since technology has been approved by the game’s lawmakers and is being used for the World Cup, he has little choice but to concede for Euro 2016 – so as long as his preferred system of two additional assistants is also employed.
Platini told the Spanish daily publication AS: “In the World Cup, they are going to use goal-line technology so I am asking myself if goal-line technology should be introduced at Euro 2016, but together with the five officials per game. Goal-line technology has been accepted by the International FA Board and I’m obliged to think about it.”
But Platini still believes his alternative system of extra human eyes is preferable and will be ensuring it runs concurrently with goal-line technology for UEFA’s flagship event.
“That would allow those officials in the penalty area to focus on the plays in their part of the pitch, on the penalties, the corners, and we would all come out winning.”
Platini cites cost and efficiency as his two main reasons for opposing technology. In a veiled dig at Sepp Blatter, who changed his mind over goalline technology following England’s goal-that-wasn’t at the 2010 World Cup, he pointed out that his FIFA counterpart had also been against implementation for many years.
“Blatter is older than me and, after having been against technology for many years, he has suddenly decided to be in favour,” said Platini. “I was against the introduction of technology but now that it is there, let’s see.”
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