Goal-line technology

The Adidas Teamgeist II with implanted chip, part of the proposed Cairos-Adidas system for goal-line technology

In association football, goal-line technology is a proposed technology currently in testing stages, which determines when the ball has completely crossed goal line, assisting the referee in calling a goal or not. So far FIFA, footballs governing body, has resisted goal-line technology as well as other proposed ideas such as instant replay and adding extra officials. FIFA officials do not want the game of football to lose the element of human error or the continuity of the game. However, in the wake of recent controversial calls made in both the FA Premier League and the 2010 World Cup FIFA is now testing potential candidates for goal line technology. Nine systems are currently being tested in stadiums across Europe. A series of tests will be run until March 2012 that will test for accuracy under different scenarios and settings, such as illumination, speed of the ball, and different angles of trajectory. With multiple systems in testing stages there is competition. If multiple systems meet the criteria and pass the testing stages they will become licensed products by the IFAB and they will be available on the market for different leagues or teams to buy. If FIFA allows goal-line technology it could be applied by the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

History

The question of the inclusion of goal-line technology began to be raised in 2005 after a game between Manchester United F.C. and Tottenham Hotspur F.C., in which Tottenham midfielder Pedro Mendes hit a shot 45 yards from goal. United goalkeeper Roy Carroll caught the ball and then dropped it at least a yard over the line before hitting it back out, but neither the referee nor the linesman saw the ball cross the line. In response to this, FIFA decided to test a system by Adidas in which a football with an embedded microchip would send a signal to the referee if it crossed a sensor going through the goal. According to FIFA president Sepp Blatter: "We did different tests at the Under-17 World Cup in Peru but the evidence wasn't clear so we will carry out trials in junior competitions in 2007". However, those trials did not materialise and by 2008, Blatter had rejected the system outright, describing the technology as 'only 95% accurate'.

Another incident occurred in August 2009 in a league match between Crystal Palace and Bristol City. Striker Freddie Sears knocked the ball over the line from close range, but the ball bounced off the stanchion below the net and then came back out. The goal was not given and Palace manager Neil Warnock was furious. In March 2010, the International Football Association Board, which determines the laws of the game, voted 6-2 to permanently ditch the technology, with the Scotland and England football associations casting the dissenting votes. In a recent poll of 48 captains in the UEFA Europa League, 90% of respondents said that they wanted goal-line technology introduced. Following several refereeing errors at the 2010 FIFA World Cup – including the disallowed goal in Germany's 4–1 victory over England, when Frank Lampard hit a shot from outside of the penalty box that bounced off the crossbar and over the line; the ball came back out and the goal was disallowed because the assistant referee did not call for a goal – Blatter announced that FIFA would reopen the goal-line technology discussion.

Another instance of a controversial call was Chelsea’s 2–1 victory over Tottenham in 2011. Frank Lampard hit a shot just before halftime that slipped through the legs of the goalie, and almost crossed the line before being tipped back into play, however the assistant called for a goal and Chelsea tied the game. Chelsea went on to win the game after another controversial offside call.

Proposed systems

Two competing systems have been proposed to FIFA.

Hawk-Eye

See main article Hawk-Eye.

The Hawk-Eye system was first developed by Dr. Paul Hawkins in 1999. The Hawk-Eye system has since been improved by engineers at Roke Manor Research Limited and is an existing technology currently used in cricket, tennis and snooker. It is based on the principle of triangulation using the visual images and timing data provided by high-speed video cameras at different locations around the area of play. The system uses six, spread out, high speed cameras to triangulate and track the ball in flight. The software calculates the ball’s location for each frame by identifying the pixels that correspond to the ball through at least two cameras. The margin of error for the system is 3.6 millimeters. The software can track the ball and predict the flight path even if several cameras are being blocked and as long as 25 percent of it is visible. The high speed cameras allow the ball to be tracked even if they only cross the line for a fraction of a second. The ball would have to travel an unattainable 500 kilometers per hour to avoid detection. The system also records the ball's flight path and stores it in a database that is used to create a graphic image of the flight path and the field so the images can be shown to commentators, coaches, and audiences. The data from the system can also be used to determine statistics for players and analyze their trends The proposal involves placing six cameras in the stands at each end of the field at a total cost of £250,000. The system is not real-time, so play has to stop for the referee or another match official to review the disputed play. According to Paul Hawkins, the inventor of the system, the ball needs to be at least 25 percent visible to be foolproof. Critics of the system claim the system will slow down the game and that the statistical margin of error is too large. Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have criticised the accuracy of the system in tennis (though Roger Federer now supports the use of the system in football).

Cairos GLT system

Graphic of the Cairos System

Produced by a German company Carios Technologies AG, alongside Adidas, the GLT system uses a magnetic field to track a ball with a sensor suspended inside. Thin cables with electrical current running through them are buried in the penalty box and behind the goal line to make a grid. The sensor measures the magnetic grids and relays the data to a computer which determines if the ball has crossed the line or not. If the ball does cross the line a radio signal is sent to the referee’s watch within a second. Adidas designed a ball that could suspend and keep a sensor safe and intact even when the ball is struck with great force. Along with the GLT system comes the VIS.Track system that can indicate offsides calls with transponders on players shin pads, as well as keep track of and give real time game statistics, and player movements. The VIS.Track system allows coaches fans and commentators to track players and the ball, supposedly allowing coaches to improve their team's performance. Cairos claims this all happens in a matter of micro-seconds, addressing critics' concerns that the technology might slow down the game. An older system developed by Cairos was trialed at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship but found not to be fast or accurate enough.

Goalminder

The Goalminder system has two co-founders Harry Barnes and Dave Parden who first thought of the system after their favorite team, the Bolton Wanderers, was relegated due to a wrongly disallowed goal. The technology was not picked up at the time, but after Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal in the 2010 World Cup the interest in goal line technology spiked causing FIFA to investigate the possibility of implanting goal-line technology. The technology that uses high speed cameras built into the goal posts and cross bar to record images at 2000 frames per second and deliver visual evidence to the referee, in less than five seconds, to settle a goal line controversy. With this technology there is no calibration just visual evidence. The system is thought to be cheaper because less expensive cameras will be needed and the field will not have to be dug into. Goalminder has been invited to take more tests by FIFA. Goal line Technology would not only suit the high premier league teams but it would also help the lower league teams in the Npower division.

Criticism

While advocates for goal-line technology maintain that it would significantly reduce refereeing errors during play, there are also criticisms of the technology. Much of the criticism comes from within FIFA itself including FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Apart from the criticisms revolving around the technical aspects of the two proposed technologies, critics point out that such technology would impact on the human element of the game and remove the enjoyment of debating mistakes. Sepp Blatter has been quoted as saying "Other sports regularly change the laws of the game to react to the new technology. ... We don't do it and this makes the fascination and the popularity of football".

A study suggested that in the 2010–11 Premier League season "errors took place nearly 30% of the time that video replays could help prevent", however many people criticize instant replay with regards to football, claiming that instant replay would interrupt the flow of the game and take away possible plays.

Other critics believe it would be prohibitively expensive to implement the technology at all levels of the game and particularly for smaller/poorer football associations. FIFA officials have expressed a preference for 'better refereeing' as well as more match officials over implementing the technology. Advocates in turn cite the many examples of incorrect goal-line decisions deciding important games and point out that the technology has improved much since the initial trials carried out by FIFA. Advocates contend that any extra help for the referee should outweigh arguments that it would lead to non-uniform rules (since not all football associations would be able to implement it).

Sepp Blatter the president of FIFA had been opposed to goal-line technology until Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal in the 2010 World Cup. He now says that the technology could be in place by the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. UEFA president, Michel Platini will likely oppose the plan, and instead propose addition referees beside each goal.

See also

• Hawk-Eye
• Video referee
• Photo finish
• Ghost goal