Anger and confusion as Fifa rules out goal-line technology
Thierry Henry's infamous handball against Ireland last year
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Sunday, 07, Mar 2010 11:39
By Matthew Champion
Premier League managers reacted with shock yesterday as Fifa said it would not pursue the introduction of goal-line technology into the game.
The decision was made after two systems - Cairos (which involves a chipped ball) and Hawk-Eye (already used in tennis and cricket) - were presented to the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
The IFAB, the body that determines the laws of the game, is made up of the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as Fifa, which has four votes to the other associations' one.
The Football Association and Scottish Football Association voted to explore the technologies further, but the Irish Football Association and Football Association of Wales supported Fifa's stance.
"Concerning goal-line technology, the board concluded that goal-line technology would not be pursued," a Fifa statement said yesterday.
Reacting to the news, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the decision was "beyond comprehension".
"For me, it is difficult to understand, for one reason because you want as much justice as possible," he said.
"I do not even think it is linked with the money factor. If you love football you want the right decisions to be made."
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish was also dumbfounded, with the decision arriving on the same day that his side were denied a clear goal in their 2-0 FA Cup sixth round defeat to Portsmouth. Liam Ridgewell had forced the ball past David James and beyond the line but the officials did not award the goal.
"That is a frustrating decision by Fifa because I think they are doing their officials a disservice," he said.
"It's not easy for their guys to see it in a split second. I know you can't stop every part of the game but certainly for key decisions in a major competition like the FA Cup, your chances of getting to semi-finals and finals are few and far between for a little club like us."
Clamour for the introduction of goal-line technology or video replays has grown since last year's infamous handball by Thierry Henry in a World Cup playoff that effectively saw France qualify for the South Africa finals at Ireland's expense.