Goal-line tests this month before July vote

I think this is the slippery slope that will eventually kill the very last essence of football as a game. The stakes are too high, there is too much money, and most of the fun has gone. It used to be a game where the referee's judgement was enough, and sure they get it wrong sometimes, but that is the game. Now with more and more technology being introduced (this is just the start) we will be exposed to 90 minutes of whining from both teams that decision "X" was unfair, and needs to be reviewed from six video angles. Actually, the 90 minutes will now become 120 due to all the stoppages for reviews.

Great news for all the armchair referee's out there who by the second replay on TV conclude that it WAS a foul and then ask why the referee couldn't see it.

RIP footbal! :(

This is essential,because at the moment the referees decisions are influenced by pressure from the players themselves and the big clubs. This also causes a lot of friction amongst payers and clubs who are continually on the end of wrong refereeing decisions.this subsequently feeds into the media hype. Plus they are human, and being human they make mistakes. Gone are the days when sole trust was in the referees and gentlemen played the game of football. The money involved at the top level is obscene, brought about by TV rights,the Champions league,The World cup,numerous other money making competitions,plus worldwide merchandise. Goal line technology wouldn't ruin the game, it would only clarify or not a if a correct decision was made. The players themselves want this technology but the ruling bodies just don't listen. This time I hope they listen.

Provided the ref (or 4th official) has instant access to make a judgement then I don't see the problem. Quite clearly Mata did not score this morning and anyway the ref should have penalised John Terry for throwing himself at the defender and goalie.

But my concern is just how often will the need for a replay be applied. Wigan lost at Chelsea to two very poor offside (non) calls. Would a case like that be reviewed? What about MU's Ashley Young's dive this morning for a penalty against Villa? Should that be scrutinised and reconsidered?

My fear is that there will be demands for replays on more and more decisions until we become a close relative of that stop-stop-stop-go play that you see in Rugby. Sir Alex was right when he said over the course of a season they (wrong decisions) even themselves out.

Replays yes - but only on goal line controversy. Everything else should be at the discrection of the ref.

I think it's a good technology to SUPPLEMENT the calls by refs, and could definitely help when there is any uncertainty. It'll cause some problems, for sure, but those problems will be that bad calls will be questioned, or that teams who benefit from bad calls will object. Neither a ref's calls nor the goal-line tech should be depended on 100% when calls are so close it is unsure if it was a goal or not, but they should be used together.

@gyouza

They are only talking about goal line technology. You are somehow confusing this with instant replay.

Either way, this is a great progress. It sucks to lose a game, especially at the world cup level due to mistakes on the referee's part in a low soring game like soccer. And this is a good news for referees too, because they literally have to worry about their life when they make big mistakes like the last world cup, whether goal or not

@hide suzuki

I think you hit the nail on the head when you say:

And this is a good news for referees too, because they literally have to worry about their life when they make big mistakes like the last world cup, whether goal or not

The stakes are just too high now, too much money involved, and not enough fun.

I know the article is about goal line technology, but I did say that this is the start of the slide into dependancy on hi-tech, and then listed the concerns I have moving forward. I love playing football, and I do get annoyed at some refereeing decisions (but refrain from complaining to them directly), but at the end of the day, it is just a game. The bad decisions could go my way as much as it could against me - doesn't matter, just get on with it!

Instant replay is all the refs need. This would help with goals, diving, red cards, etc.

Ahhh, I just watched the game. Jeez, goal line tech is not the issue here. The ref missed John Terry's foul on two defenders and the goalkeeper - and it was right in front of him. Even if the ball had gone over the line it should have been a foul.

With many people all over the world could watch HD feeds, they could already better see whether the ball crosses the line or not. It's time for the refs be given the power to catch up what the rest of the world already sees. Instantaneous goal-line technology is objective, so there'd be no reason for players and fans to whine anymore that they've been cheated - makes it safer for the refs from being attacked and less emotional riots when objective fact is staring them in the face.

Instantaneous goal-line technology is objective, so there'd be no reason for players and fans to whine anymore that they've been cheated

These are football fans, you might be surprised! There will ALWAYS be an outcry and the players and fans will call into question the accuracy of the system, and was it calibrated correctly, is one of the sensors tethered correctly, lets check the video evidence again.

Leave it with the ref, take it on the chin if he gets it wrong and enjoy the game!