December 14 – UEFA president Michel Platini may have long been opposed to goal-line technology but his organisation now realises it can no longer resist its implementation.
Goal-line technology seems likely to be used at the Euro 2016 finals next summer and could eventually be introduced into the Champions League and Europa League but in conjunction with Platini’s preferred existing rule of two extra assistants.
In Platini’s absence because of his ongoing suspension, UEFA’s executive committee last week conceded that the time had probably come to go with the flow which already includes the World Cup.
“This has been on the table for quite some time,” said UEFA general secretary Gianno Infantino. ” The exco decided that a decision on the use of goal-line technology will be taken in January at its next meeting because everything has to be analysed.
“For example, there are different companies. One is used in France, a different one in England and so on. Also, because when UEFA decides to go for goal-line technology in addition to the five referees, it will be both for the Euro but also for the club competitions so this entails a whole series of logistical challenges which we have to analyse.
“But there was a positive feeling in the exco. If it happens for Euro 2016 then it will also happen for the club competitions for next season, the Champions League and Europa League. This will be in addition to the five assistants.
“The final decision will be made in January but the executive committee was pretty positive in its mindset.”
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