Goal Line Technology ‘Too Expensive’ for Champions League

The President of UEFA, Michel Platini has today announced that the technology prevalent in sports such as tennis and cricket is too expensive to be used in the World’s most lucrative sporting competition.

Fans have long berated governing bodies for the introduction of technology to aid refereeing decisions.  Too long has human error cost fans and players the chance of glory when everyone watching on TV can plainly see the error.

Recently, goal line technology has moved much closer, with Fifa hosting trials and approving two companies, Hawkeye and Goal Ref for use in top level football matches.  However Platini’s comments will be a blow for fans of the World’s most watched football competition.

Expense

Platini estimates that goal line technology would cost UEFA in the region of 54 million Euros spread over 5 years.  Considering the winner of the tournament alone earns a sum in excess of 54 million Euros, in a single year, surely there is room in the budget to ensure that it is a fair winner?

Platini would prefer to spend the money on youth development, which seems a fair opinion, but just how much money should we pour in to the bottomless pit that is ‘youth development’?

Match Fixing

 

Sceptics would also comment that if Platini’s main goal as UEFA President is to eradicate match fixing, which he stated was the greatest threat to football just a few months ago, then the use of technology can only help in that mission to stop it.

While footballers have been to known to perform poorly on purpose, the greatest match fixing conspiracy of modern times occurred at Platini’s former club Juventus, who paid referees to influence games.  A referee would have less excuses for incorrect decisions if he was aided by technology.

Controversy

The main argument against goal line technology between fans has often been that they enjoy the controversy and wouldn’t like to see technology put an end to it.  Referring them to the most recent controversial incident in the Champions League – the sending off of Luis Nani for a unintentional high boot to the chest of Alvaro Arbeloa – did fans, pundits and managers come to a common consensus after the game?

Video replays would make referees better informed, but it wouldn’t eliminate dodgy decisions entirely as many of the rules of the game allow the referee a great deal of subjectivity when making a decision on whether a tackle has ‘excessive force’ or a handball is deemed to be deliberate.

Whether a ball is over the line or not is black and white however - it is either a goal or it isn't.   This could be the first step towards modernising the beautiful game, and bringing it up to date with other world sports.