AFC backs goal-line technology

Asian Football Confederation President Bin Hammam has thrown his support behind the use of goal-line technology.

SINGAPORE: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed Bin Hammam has thrown his support behind the use of goal-line technology and extra assistant referees.

“There must be some technology introduced to define whether the ball went in or not. That must happen,” said Bin Hammam, a Fifa executive committee member. “We must take into consideration today that with hundreds of cameras in a stadium telecasting the match, they can detect each and every action. So people are always going to be negative about referee mistakes.

The controversial issue of goal-line technology will be discussed at a meeting of the International Football Association Board in October, according to Fifa President Sepp Blatter.

Fifa have previously rebuffed all demands to use video technology to resolve contentious refereeing decisions, despite it being successfully implemented in other sports such as tennis, cricket and rugby union.

Their rationale has been that it would disrupt the free-flowing movement of the game.

Extra referees sought

Support for the use of two extra assistant referees is also growing. The system was used in the Europa League last season and will this year be trialled in the Champions League, as well as a handful of other competitions around the world.

“It’s unfortunate for referees but maybe with introducing two extra referees in a match, it can improve the decision and judgement of referees. Goal-line technology and two extra referees can resolve a lot of the issues.”

Referees will be assisted by two linesmen and two further officials in each penalty area under the proposed sytstem.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2010.