English Premier League Chiefs Support use of Goal-Line Video Technology

By: Bob | March 1st, 2007

With the eyes of three officials sometimes proving to be inadequate, top officials in the English Premier League are backing the use of Hawk-Eye video technology to help with controversial goal-line decisions. The technology, which is currently used to judge calls in tennis and on television coverage of cricket, operates with computers and cameras directly connected to the referee, minimizing delays in decisions about whether a goal is a goal or if it is not a goal.

Said Premiership referees’ chief Keith Hackett:

He said: ‘Football is ultimately about scoring goals and the question I would ask, is would people be happy with the World Cup final, the most prestigious match there is, being decided by an inaccurate result? We want goals to be a decision based on fact, not opinion.’

‘The system operates with cameras and computers linked directly to the referee, providing immediate information without interference, so we believe it fulfills all the criteria.’

Sounds logical enough to me as long as it doesn’t slow down the game and as long as the technology is able to definitively show goals. Hackett and his posse will make the case to the international FA Board on Saturday to run an experiment to test out a version of goal-line technology. Among the decisions they will point to was the one made two years ago in match between Manchester United and Tottenham. As you can see in the video below, Pedro Mendes’ shot was clearly a goal but it was ruled otherwise.

What do you think? Is video technology a welcomed addition to the sport or should things remain the way they are?