STEVEN Gerrard yesterday backed the decision by football chiefs to use goal-line technology in the Premier League next season.
Gerrard played for England when team-mate Frank Lampard had a clear goal disallowed during their 4-1 defeat to Germany at the 2010 World Cup.The Liverpool midfielder highlighted it as the turning point in the match and FIFA president Sepp Blatter was forced to apologise to the FA — later citing it as the reason why the game’s governing decided to review their stance on goal-line technology.
FIFA announced last week they had appointed German company GoalControl to provide goal-line technology at the Confederations Cup in Brazil this summer and — if successful — the 2014 World Cup.
And yesterday the Premier League voted to become the first league in Europe to install the system from next season. The FA will also put it in place at Wembley Stadium in time for August’s Community Shield.
England skipper Gerrard admitted: “I’m all for it. Football has become so important that these big decisions have to be right.
“Referees need the help. It’s impossible to get every single decision right. Goal-line technology will eliminate mistakes being made in the game.”
The Three Lions were beaten 4-1 by Germany in South Africa but Lampard’s strike, which cannoned down off the crossbar to bounce a yard over the line, was ruled out when the score was 2-1.
Former Arsenal and FA vice-chairman David Dein, who has long campaigned for goal-line technology, claimed every top-flight referee in England was in favour of having a system.
He said: “The Premier League will be the first league in Europe to introduce it.
“I have been on this campaign for six or seven years and now it’s going to happen.
“The referees need help, the camera will always beat the eye, and every referee in the Premier League is in favour of it.”
Stoke City Chairman Peter Coate welcomed the decision but expressed concern about the use of technology being extended to other areas such as offside decisions.
He said: “I think we should be careful. The great thing about our game is that it should be simple, free-flowing and that it carries on. We don’t want to become like a rugby game.”
G UP FOR TECHNOLOGY ... Gerrard backs change
It’s been a good day for football.”
But former England skipper Gary Lineker believes football chiefs should go further in the use of modern technology.
He said: “I’d like to eventually see it being taken further in the way that rugby uses technology. You want decisions to be right.
“As for it slowing the game down, you see players rolling around the pitch doing that anyway. I think it will add to the occasion.”
The Premier League will use goal-line technology provided by British-based firm Hawk-Eye.
Seven cameras per goal will detect the ball and if it has crossed the line the referee will be notified via a vibration and optical signal sent to his watch within one second. The company claims it is “millimetre accurate” It will cost around £170,000 per stadium to install and a further £2,800 per match to operate.
Once work is under way, installation of the system for the 17 Premier League clubs who avoid relegation and the three teams promoted from the Football League is expected to take up to six weeks to complete this summer.
It has been tested at Southampton’s St Mary’s stadium and at an England v Belgium Wembley friendly — as well as having been widely used in cricket, tennis and snooker.
But it will still NOT be used in Champion’s League matches with UEFA president Michel Platini insising last month it was too EXPENSIVE.
UEFA currently uses extra referees stood behind the goal during its European club competitions Italy’s FA, which also uses extra officials, said yesterday it saw “no need” for extra technology.
The Football League are still considering whether to introduce the system.
Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter said: “It’s been nearly 50 years in waiting and finally it will be here. The sooner the better.
“Every referee in the country will be happy about this.
“But I would add caution to it. When you think of the number of times that it will be needed during a season it will not make a phenomenal difference.
“The fear now is that once this is in and seen to work there will be the clamour for technology for offside decisions, free-kicks and penalties.
“They are matters of opinion wheras whether a ball has gone over the line is a matter of fact.
“I still believe football is not like tennis, cricket and rugby which have lots of natural breaks. Football is a fast flowing game decided by human error as much as by skill. It would take away the talking points and sanitise the game.”
Winter also said: “It does seem silly that it will be in selected levels of football. When you think of the Champions League it is probably the richest competition there is yet UEFA does not want it.
“We’ll see though. If a French team lose out in the Champions League next year through a disputed goal then Mr Platini might change his mind.”
Goal-line controversies
OLD AND THE NEU ... blunders like this disallowed Lampard goal in 2010 have forced change
Germany 4 England 1, June 2010
Lamps’ shot hit Manuel Neuer’s bar and flew well over the line. It would have made it 2-2.
PEDRO MENDES
Man Utd 0-0 Spurs, Jan 2005
United keeper Roy Carroll clawed the ball away after it had clearly gone in.
GERRY TAGGART
Bolton 0-0 Everton, Sept 1997
His header was disallowed. Everton survived and Bolton were relegated, finishing below the fourth-bottom Toffees on goal difference.
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