Does technology have a part to play in the modern game?

As we look forward to another weekend of Premier League action, I can’t help but wonder, which contentious issue will be discussed and exhaustively analysed by veterans of the game masquerading as pundits. Will the ‘hot’ topic centre around wage caps, the tackle from behind or the intricacies of the offside law? Whatever controversy is focussed upon it will probably run in tandem with the much-questioned implementation of goal-line technology to help referees and their assistants.

The incident that sparked the latest debate occurred at Craven Cottage on August 18 where Fulham’s David Healy appeared to have rescued a point when Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer failed to hold the striker’s injury-time shot with replays showing the ball had clearly crossed the line.

However, referee Andy D’Urso [who replaced the injured Lee Mason after only eight minutes] and linesman Ian Gosling refused to award the effort which left Cottagers boss Lawrie Sanchez furious as the home side went down to a 2-1 defeat.

There was a similar, though less well reported, incident on the same afternoon in the game between Norwich City and Southampton at Carrow Road. Southampton manager George Burley was convinced that Andrew Surman’s shot, which was fumbled by David Marshall, had crossed the line before the Norwich City goalkeeper finally secured the ball in his grasp.

Southampton were leading 1-0 at the time but eventually went down to a 2-1 defeat, which led Burley to call for technology in such instances.

“I’ve looked at our disallowed goal on the monitor and I’m convinced it crossed the line. I certainly wouldn’t object if goal-line technology was used to sort out things like this.”

I can certainly understand the frustration and disappointment behind Burley’s remarks as such errors of judgement seem to occur regularly in the over-analysed modern game where obscene amounts of money and even a manager’s job security can be affected by the decision of an unsighted team of officials.

Indeed, the relevant technology to prevent such costly blunders already exists. Hawk-eye is a camera-based system that is currently being tested at Reading youth team games in a trial partly funded by the Premier League. This innovation requires clubs to install six cameras, at different angles, behind each goal at a cost of around £250,000 per ground. If Hawk-eye had been used at Craven Cottage on Saturday, Andy D’Urso would have been able to hear a distinct beep through his ear-piece to confirm that Healy’s header had crossed the line. The whole process would take half a second, which is hardly going to slow down the frenetic pace of the Premier League as detractors fear.

There is also the alternative micro-chip technology of adidas and Cairos, the German firm, for FIFA to consider along with the argument that other sports such as cricket and tennis have adopted such systems with little disruption, so why should football be any different?

It is difficult to dismiss such reasoned arguments as they seem to make perfect, logical sense - but since when has football been a game of logic? Surely human error and controversy is part and parcel of the beautiful game. If a clinical machine replaced such spontaneity, I’m afraid that this would seriously dilute the passion that engages so many.

There are also fears that the reliance on technology for goal-line disputes will eventually lead to a dependency on machines to rule on offside decisions, free-kicks and even bookings. This will obviously detract from the fast and furious nature of the game we all know and love.

It can be argued that there have been instances where such technology has clearly been needed but does the issue arise often enough for the permanent installation of technology to our grounds? I would argue that it doesn’t. Fulham and Southampton might have been robbed last weekend but at some stage over the season these decisions will level themselves out in the form of a dodgy penalty or a blatantly offside goal being awarded by a badly positioned set of officials.

Even Lawrie Sanchez, whose Fulham side would be a point better off if goal-line technology was a reality, is not convinced that it should be introduced. Speaking after Healy’s ‘goal’ had been disallowed, the former Wycombe Wanderers and Northern Ireland manager said:

“I am a traditionalist. I don’t particularly want to take away decision-making by referees, but they have to get the big ones right.”

How do we ensure referees get the big decisions right all of the time? The simple answer is that we can’t and that is the beautiful, unpredictable nature of football as I’m sure Sanchez and Burley will agree the next time that they benefit from a controversial decision.

Nathan Davies

Ajax sign Colin

AC Milan’s Alessandro Nesta has confirmed his retirement from the Italian national team.

Ajax have signed Norwich City defender Jurgen Colin for an undisclosed fee. Colin has initially signed a one-year contract, but there is an option for an additional two-year extension.

Nathan Davies