By Andrew Warshaw in Belo Horizonte
June 17 – World Cup organisers have promised to tweak the use of goalline technology after the confusion that marred France’s 3-0 win over Honduras. Sunday’s Group E game in Porto Alegre made history after the first ever World Cup goal was awarded as a result of the introduction of technology.
Three minutes after half-time France striker Karim Benzema thumped a volley against the inside of a post. The ball flew back across the face of goal before hitting Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares and rolling over the goalline.
Valladares tried to scoop the ball to safety, but Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci awarded the goal after receiving an instant signal that the ball had crossed the line. However Honduras officials reacted angrily after the giant stadium screens initially flashed up “No Goal” followed seconds later by “Goal.”
GoalControl, the technology selected by FIFA, has not been used in a major sporting event before and FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said the “unique” nature of the incident – the ball striking a post and rebounding into the Honduran goalkeeper – had caused a slight blip.
“We are working to make it more clear. We will modify so you just see the ‘goal’ decision,” Fischer said. “There were no mistakes. It all worked as planned. However we are working to modify it to make much clearer for fans inside the stadiums … and make it even clearer for viewers in front of their TV sets.”.”
Goal-line technology is being used for the first time following the notorious incident at the 2010 finals when England’s Frank Lampard had a clear goal disallowed against Germany despite replays showing the ball had crossed the line. It was that incident which made FIFA President Sepp Blatter change his mind about enforcing it at the World Cup.
Meanwhile UEFA has said there is a “decent chance” it will introduce goalline technology for the Euro 2016 tournament in France despite its president Michel Platini having always been fiercely opposed and preferring his alternative plan of extra officials behind each goal.
“The president was glad to see it worked,” a UEFA spokesman was quoted saying. “There is a decent chance UEFA will use it at the next European Championship in 2016. It will be discussed by our referees committee and then at our executive committee meetings as well. There is no rush for us to decide but the topic has already been debated.”
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