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Goal line technology most welcome

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Dear Editor,

The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) is moving to resolve one of the biggest problems with which referees have been faced at all levels of competition over the years.

It is sometimes impossible for a referee or linesman to decide whether or not the ball has crossed over the goal line in order to call a goal. If the official is not in line with the goal line when the ball crosses, it is impossible to determine that a goal has been scored.

On occasions, the ball can hit the cross bar and bounce back onto the field without crossing the goal line. A referee or linesman has to be in line with the goal line to see for sure if the ball crosses the goal line.

Sometimes it is impossible for one or the other to be in this position, especially if the ball is kicked when they are far way from the line, as sometimes happens.

Any decision in this circumstance is based on guessing.

In my 37 years of refereeing, including 18 years at the international level, this situation has always bothered me. In the 2010 World Cup a referee denied a legitimate goal in England's defeat by Germany as the ball had crossed the goal line.

Now, FIFA has announced plans that, it is hoped, will put an end to the goal line controversy. In next year's World Cup finals in Brazil, FIFA will put in place revolutionary goal line technology (GLT) in a bid to reduce controversial refereeing decisions.

Two systems are being proposed, one will use magnetic sensors to determine whether the ball has crossed the line, and the other will use a number of cameras.

GLT is a welcome addition to football competition and will greatly assist match officials.

Ken Chaplin

Goal line technology most welcome

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