Looks like Blatter and co. have
finally seen sense and accepted what the rest of the world always knew was right!
From two separate pages on the BBC (
here and
here, one of which is a revised version of the one linked to by
atomicdanny above):
Goal-line technology could be introduced in the Premier League midway through the 2012-13 season after it was approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Zurich.
Two systems - Hawk-Eye and GoalRef - have passed Fifa's criteria for use.
The technology will first be used at December's Fifa Club World Cup and, if successful, at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup.
The Premier League said it wanted it "as soon as practically possible."
A statement following IFAB's announcement added: "The Premier League has been a long-term advocate of goal-line technology.
"We welcome today's decision by IFAB and will engage in discussions with both Hawk-Eye and GoalRef in the near future with a view to introducing goal-line technology as soon as is practically possible."
The systems will require testing after they are installed in each stadium to ensure they are working properly before they can be used, with licenses lasting for 12 months.
Hawk-Eye was tested at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium in May and Fifa thanked the FA for its assistance.
A Fifa spokesman said: "We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to the Football Association for their willingness to support the live match tests, a critical part of Test Phase 2 for goal-line technology."
IFAB was keen to stress that technology will not be used to help referees make any other decisions.
It's taken far too long for this to happen, but now that it has hopefully we'll see an end to silly incidents such as Frank Lampard vs Germany or Pedro Mendes vs Manchester United. On the other hand though, it may lead to other controversial situations, such as England vs Ukraine match and also the 2007 FA Cup Final, in which the ball crossed the line under essentially foul conditions but both the foul and the goal were inexplicably overlooked - in such situations, the attacking team will win when perhaps it shouldn't.
Unfortunately however, there's always one dimwit:
Uefa president Michel Platini is believed to prefer the use of five match officials, something which was also approved by Fifa on Thursday.
The system, which sees an extra official posted behind each goal-line to monitor action in and around the penalty box, has been on trial since 2008 and was in use during Euro 2012 as well as last season's Champions League.
I still don't see why Platini is so against it. It is the way forward. Tennis has had Hawk-Eye for years and has made a massive difference to the game. Cricket has allowed video replays for years and increasingly so with Challenges in recent times. And everyone knows about the try-that-wasn't in the 2007 World Cup Final (unfortunately
). Maybe he scored more than his fair share of marginal goals and is afraid of getting caught out?
Blatter meanwhile has cited Lampard's ghost goal as the one that made the biggest difference:
"That was the moment for me to say 'you are the president of Fifa and you can't afford for something similar to happen in the next World Cup'," he said.
"We could say it is a historic day for international football.
"In the autumn of 2010, we started tests and now we are ready.
"I am a happy man that we did it and for me the objective is for 2014 but now we have a system which is available for others."
One other interesting comment, from Sir Geoff Hurst (obviously the man at the centre of the most famous was-it-or-wasn't-it in football, which also saw England on the offence in a World Cup Final):
"It would have shown quite categorically that the ball was quite clearly at least a yard over the line," he insisted.
"But had it said it wasn't in then we would have won 3-2, so there's still no difference.
On the other hand, I have seen evidence before now on television suggesting that the ball was only 3/4 of the way across the line, meaning the 3-2 result would be applicable - or, maybe, it would have just been 2-1 as everyone knows it should have been. There are plentiful videos on YouTube suggesting this as well!
Anyway, the technology has finally been approved, and good riddance. If only Platini would accept it is for the best...