Goal-line technology now a necessity
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, June 21, 2012
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said goal-line technology was a "necessity" after officials controversially denied Ukraine a goal against England in their Euro 2012 match on Tuesday.
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England's John Terry clears the ball, but not before it has crossed the goalline, against Ukraine. |
Blatter used Twitter to make clear he supported that move. "After last night's match, GLT (goal line technology) is no longer an alternative but a necessity," he wrote.
Marco Devic thought he had equalized for the co-hosts to bring them potentially within a goal of qualifying for the quarterfinals but Hungarian officials waved play on after an over-the-line clearance from England defender John Terry.
Television replays suggested the ball had crossed the line and Ukraine head coach Oleg Blokhin and his team were left fuming while England conceded it had been fortunate.
UEFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina conceded that Ukraine should have been awarded the goal. "We made a mistake," Collina said. "I wish we hadn't made the mistake but we did. Referees are human beings and human beings make mistakes."
Collina said Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai and his team of assistants would play no further part in the tournament, but no blame was attributed to the referee. He said Kassai would have found himself under too much pressure if he had stayed. "Kassai is one of the best referees in Europe," Collina said.
Goal-line technology is expected to be formally sanctioned by the International Football Association Board, which governs the laws of the game, on July 5.
FIFA has been trialling two different systems to help officials know whether a ball has crossed the line.
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