By Andrew Warshaw
July 2 – UEFA is doing its best to prevent football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), from finally giving the green light this week to goal-line technology.
After years of debate, the IFAB is expected to approve technology at Thursday’s (July 5) special meeting in Zurich but UEFA is rallying behind its President Michel Platini, a fierce opponent of using scientific aids to help determine if the ball has crossed the line.
Platini reiterated his opposition at the weekend and now UEFA is lobbying the IFAB, which comprises FIFA and four British associations.
UEFA has been experimenting instead, both at the 2012 European Championship and in club competitions, with Platini’s pet project of two additional assistants, one behind each goal, and want IFAB to endorse that system on Thursday while delaying a decision on technology.
“The Executive Committee is asking FIFA and IFAB to start an open debate about technology in football involving all stakeholders before any decision is taken in this area,” said UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.
“We have evaluated 1,000 matches at the highest level and Pierluigi Collina [UEFA’s refereeing officer] showed us all the situations and benefits following three years of tests.
“The Executive Committee of UEFA unanimously agreed to issue a statement for full support for this system and to request to IFAB and FIFA to allow the five referees to officiate in the future.
“The results from these 1,000 matches were extremely positive and there was just one serious mistake.
“Unfortunately it happened during these Euros as we all know, but there was unanimous support.”
The one mistake came during Ukraine’s match with England when a shot from Marko Dević was clearly over the line before being hooked clear by England’s John Terry.
Despite that, Platini said he remained steadfastly opposed to any system that replaced human judgement.
Once again using the increasingly tired argument that introducing technology would serve as a dangerous precedent in terms of other areas of controversy like offside and penalties, Platini said: “I am not just wholly against goal-line technology, I am against technology itself because then it is going to invade every area of football.
“The goal between England and Ukraine – it was a goal, ok – and it’s a mistake from the referee and he didn’t see it.
“But there was an offside before then so if they have given offside we wouldn’t have had the goal.
“So why don’t we have technology for offside decisions as well.
“And what about Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986?
“Why don’t we have technology to see if Maradona handled it?
“Where does it stop?
“It won’t stop.
“I am against technology itself.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734852286labto1734852286ofdlr1734852286owedi1734852286sni@w1734852286ahsra1734852286w.wer1734852286dna1734852286
Related stories
June 2012: Dević’s disallowed goal was an “unfortunate mistake”, says Collina
June 2012: Goal-line technology is no longer an alternative but a necessity, insists Blatter
June 2012: Andrew Warshaw – IFAB giving the OK to goal-line technology cannot come soon enough
May 2012: Goal-line technology to be tested at England v Belgium international friendly
May 2012: I’m against the technology, insists Michel Platini as he stands firm against goal-line aids