Sport Innovation/Goal-line Technology

The international governing body of football, International Federation of Association Football, or as the French say Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), has long refuse the use of goal-line and other technologies within the game [1].

It’s up to referees and linesmen to make the important calls that mean the difference between winning and losing. Football has had its fair share of wrong decisions; goals that were disallowed, non-goal that were allowed and fouls that went unnoticed [2].

Goal-line technology (GLT) is a technology which determines if the ball has completely crosses the goal line, thus assisting the referees in the decision to call goal or not [2].

FIFA is now testing potential candidates for GLT, including nine different systems including Cairos GLT System and Goalminder. A series of tests will be conducted over the coming months that will determine the accuracy of the technology under differing settings and scenarios [1].

FIFA have laid down strict testing criteria that the nine systems will have to meet in order to proceed through to the second phase of testing.

Although the debate to introduce GLT as well as other technologies has been going on for over a decade, the most recent and controversial trigger reigniting the debate was in the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. Over the years there has been legitimate arguments both for and against the introduction of GLT [3].

However, it is ultimately FIFA's decision as to whether or not technology is introduced into the sport of football [4]. The fact that FIFA are testing nine different goal-line technologies and have discussed its possible inclusion in the 2012–13 English Premier League proves to be positive step into the future [1]. It is clear that the introduction of technology in football has the potential to reduce human error and to make goal-line controversies a thing of the past [5].

Footnotes

[1] Conway, R. (2011, November 24). Premier League could use goal-line technology in 2012–13 season. Retrieved November 29, 2011, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15866363.stm

[2] Football’s rejection of Goal-line tech. (2010, June 24). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/8757936.stm

[3] Gibson, O. (2010, June 27). World Cup 2010: Sports Minister joins calls for Goal-line Technology. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/27/world-cup-2010-goal-line-technology?INTCMP=SRCH

[4] Fifa may implement video replay technology, says Sepp Blatter. (2010, January 24). The Guardian. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/24/video-replay-technology-sepp-blatter

[5] Goal-line Technology – Getting it right. (2010). Retrieved November 29, 2011, from http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2010/04/article_0001.html