Another weekend, and yet another call has come bellowing from the English Football community for goal-line technology to be introduced into our game.
The victim on this occasion was Crystal Palace, who had a legitimate goal ruled out by both the referee Rob Shoebridge and his linesman.
To rub salt in the wound Palace went on to lose the game 1-0 with a late Nicky Maynard goal at Ashton Gate.
Palace manager Neil Warnock has been quick to lambaste the guilty officials, who have been suspended from duty indefinitely, and the Bristol City playing and coaching staff.
The former Sheffield United manager has claimed their opponents should have owned up to the goal being scored to help the officials make the correct decision.
In a weird twist Warnock seems to have attempted to shed some of the blame from Shoebridge and co and towards Gary Johnson’s and his staff and players.
In truth it’s difficult to side with Warnock, considering making crucial decisions like that are not one a set of players should be making.
Yet again the decision, or lack of one but brought up the debate of goal-line technology on the football pitch but yet again it’s set to meet opposition from FIFA.
A concept, set to be trialled in this season Europa League, uses an official standing either side of each goal on both sides instead of a technology system.
The same idea is used in Rugby Union, where the linesmen stand either side of the posts when a penalty or conversion kick is due to being taken.
As appealing as the option of cameras or sensors in the goalmouth is, the option would not be readily available at grassroots level, this way means the rules can be staggered down through the various levels of professional football.
Saturday’s bizarre incident brought back memories of the ‘Phantom’ goal scored by Reading at Watford last season, and on that same occasion referee Stuart Attwell was also suspended, but returned to Premiership action later that season.
In all fairness, for the officials not to have seen something that happened is one thing, but for a referee to create a goal from no-where is something quiet different.
Shoebridge should be given a second chance there’s no doubt, but not in the same way Attwell has been, as he’s continued to referee at a high level and constantly make mistakes.
As for the technology well it seems that calls just won’t go away, and that this latest idea is simply a time saving device for FIFA, as they resist in turning to the technology route that so many sports have gone down.
2 comments:
I have to agree with Dave on this one mate, as Johnson should have allowed Palace to go on and score.
Technology in football is not an option for me, even if it is only goal-line technology as it ruins the flow of a match. It only works in tennis, cricket and rugby as they are sports that are not known for there constant pace.
If a large club was involved then the game would have been played (ie Arsenal and Sheff Utd ten years ago with the whole Grimandi throw-gate situation)
I hope the article didn't condone the use of goal-line technology, certainly wasn't my aim. I've been against it from day one.
I just think this decision, combined with a number of previous incidents means we're getting ever closer from having technology in the game;a sad case of events.
The Kanu incident when he didn't know the rules about giving the ball back in that cup tie at Highbury a few years ago and the Yeovil incident, the last time Johnson was involved in such an incident were entirely different cases.
Both concerned giving the ball back after injuries, at Ashton Gate the incident occurred during free-flowing play and is simply a refereeing error, not something the FA seem willing to overturn.
I think saying that a big club would have had the game replayed is a totally unfounded comment to be honest. Tottenham Hotspur and Pedro Mendes would tell you that.
And if I remember it was the usually distant Arsene Wenger who offered to replay the game after the Kanu goal against Sheffield United.
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