Should Goal Line Technology be introduced?

The beauty of football is the way it can create debate. Whoever you are, whoever you support, you can have your view and a trip to your local pub will show just how heated these debates can often get.

However in my own experience, whenever the subject of goal-line technology arises all seem to unite in agreement. In fact, throughout my time I have not ever heard any valid reasons against the introduction of goal-line technology into the game.

There are those who argue it will disrupt the play and tempo of matches; however, this theory is rather ill-informed. A simple glance at the way in which similar technology is used in rugby (and one can see no disruption in play), and the 30-odd seconds it takes to verify the position of the ball saves months of heartache afterwards.

Similarly, technology is used successfully in other sports, such as tennis. Here, a computer-based system called ‘Hawk-Eye’ follows the path of the ball using a series of cameras, which then are able to pinpoint exactly where the ball has landed, thus making it possible to decide whether it was in or out. Likewise, Hawk-Eye technology is used in other sports such as cricket and snooker. So why hasn’t it been introduced into football?

One has to wonder how the powers in charge of the game have time to sit and debate the happiness of the £100,000 a week “slaves”, but are unable to discuss the pressing issues which affect all levels of the game. Without a doubt, whatever club you support – be it Manchester United or Manningtree Town (nice use of Manningtree Town there - did you know that it is the only place in the country where there is a pub on the train station platform?) - it is almost certain you have been affected by the lack of goal-line technology at some point, be it positively or negatively.

Do you remember Pedro Mendes disallowed goal at Old Trafford? The ghost-goal at Anfield? How about Geoff Hurst's supposed goal in the 1966 World Cup Final? All of these decisions, along with countless others could have been prevented with goal-line technology and we wouldn’t still be bleating on about them.

Written by Aram Hekmat