Football Technology - A Needy Evolution that Requires Minimal Adaptation

The introduction of goal-line technology was championed by Harry Redknapp following his side’s defeat to two goals, which, had video replays been introduced to the game, would have ruled Chelsea’s victory over Spurs obsolete.

Sandro’s magnificent opener, along with Luka Modric’s influential individual display for Tottenham is now overshadowed by the lingering argument of goal-line technology after Heurelho Gomes’s first-half howler allowed Frank Lampard’s speculative effort to creep partially over the line.

The second case is for Chelsea’s winner. Salomon Kalou appeared to be in an offside position when he struck in the 89th minute, handing Carlo Ancelotti’s side a win which has kept them firmly in the title race.

Redknapp in his post-match interviews neglected to heap blame on the referee Andre Marriner or indeed the linesman who adjudged Lampard’s shot to have fully crossed the line, Mike Cairns. Instead, the Spurs boss rightly elected to insinuate football’s governing body, who amongst other things, pride themselves on upstanding the game’s fair play, are failing to do their job.

As the heads of Fifa met last month and promptly decided to outlaw the snood – football’s most current winter fashion trend – actions or plans to introduce goal-line were put on ice.

Naturally, decisions of such magnitude, which will have a direct impact on the flow of the game, are not to be taken lightly but Fifa seem to be reluctant in divulging any technological ideas they have that could improve the fairness of football.

For Lampard’s strike at Stamford Bridge, and indeed his one against Germany in last summer’s World Cup, television replays were able to provide clarity in a decision which has currently got to be made within seconds. But in such a frantic game, how can this been introduced without disrupting the flow?

A chip inside a football and a sensor placed on the goalposts appears to be the perfect remedy. Similar to ice hockey, this is a quick and easy way to tell, without requiring video confirmation, whether a goal is awarded or not.

But with this comes a problem. Introducing such technology requires cost, and for fairness to be upheld, it will need to be implemented at every professional club in the world. In England, if such an experiment were to be constricted solely to the Premier League, lower divisions would still be suffering from faux calls.

An alternative to judge whether the ball has crossed the line is the introduction of television replays. In a live broadcast, commentators are handed the pictures in super slow-mo in an instant, referees, or indeed, fourth officials could benefit from the same viewing.

But again this has a snag. At what point can the referee stop the game to check the video? If Marriner elected to play on after Gomes’s fumble and Tottenham, without a break in play, went up the other end and doubled their advantage, how would this be handled? Would the score be 2-1, allowing both goals? Can the team questioning the decision opt for a timeout? Does the game need to be halted at every contentious call? Every avenue must be covered, the significance of technological advancements in the game require a large part of the rulebook to be re-written.

And how will Fifa decide when technology is too much? Every decision is contested - throw-ins, free kicks, diving, corners, offsides, penalties. Each call, with the introduction of video technology, would be correct. No arguments. But the worry is whether football will be turned into tennis or cricket, awash with stoppages, intruding on the flow of the game.

Whatever their decision, Fifa need to act quickly. Champions League places, Premier League survival hopes and title challenges hinge on correct decisions and one day. The introduction of technology is a needy one but football's governing body must implement changes which have a minimal impact on how the game's played.