If We have Goal Line technology we wont need nets !

Platini has once again voiced his stance at plans to introduce Goal-Line technology into the game in favour of more officials. The Premier League plans to implement the new system for the 2013-14 season, amid increasing calls from the media, public and those involved in football for referees to be aided electronically.

 The London Evening Standard recently quoted Platini saying “

“My idea is to help referees by putting up more referees.

“You will never convince me on technology and I will not change at the age of 57. Technology assisting referee: I say, no.”

How much difference any technology will make is open to many debate. The latest incident in the premier league involved referee Mike Dean who failed to award Victor Anichebe’s goal for Everton when his close range header clearly crossed the line.

The last time we saw any major advances in the filed of play was back in 1981 with the introduction of goal nets. Goal nets were the invention of J. A. Brodie, who took out a patent for his invention in 1890. The first official use of nets date from 1891 when they were used at Crosby Cricket ground near Liverpool, then home to a section of Old Etonians playing for a club called Liverpool Ramblers AFC, and at Nottingham Forest’s Town Ground. They were first used in an FA Cup Final in 1892 but it was some time before they were used regularly in International matches, which led to the odd disputed goal. 

But even when nets became widespread there were still disputes. The tautness of the mesh of those early nets was a particular problem, as the ball would often rebound. In the 1908-09 season West Bromwich Albion missed out on promotion by a fraction of a point after a referee disallowed a goal, thinking that the ball had hit the crossbar, and Aston Villa were relegated to the Third Division after a similar incident in 1970. Crystal Palace’s Clive Allen had a perfectly good goal wiped-out against Coventry City in 1980 when his free-kick rebounded off the stanchion at the back of the net while Millwall’s Paul Ifill saw a goal ruled out in 1999 during a game at Colchester United’s Layer Road ground after the officials failed to realise the ball had hit the back of the netting and bounced out again.

The Law

 A goal must be placed on the centre of each goal line.

A goal consists of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flagposts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The goalposts and crossbar must be made of wood, metal or other approved material. They must be square, rectangular, round or elliptical in shape and must not be dangerous to players.

Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and depth, which do not exceed 12 cm (5 ins). The goal lines must be of the same width as the goalposts and the crossbar. Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal, provided that they are properly supported and do not interfere with the goalkeeper.

The goalposts and crossbars must be white. So to clarify no Law requirement to have nets which could be replaced by Ball Line Technology.

Article now pending review by Mr  Michel Platini UEFA President

( What is French for Nets May ?)