INTERVIEW: FA open to goal-line technology - if it's reliable
Posted by DavidM in Interviews | 17 February 2006
In our first Real Life News interview, we put questions to The FA about the rules that frustrate fans.
We’d recently seen Arjen Robben given a second yellow card for his celebration after scoring. Most neutral fans felt it a bit harsh, so we asked why players can’t celebrate like this.
“Guidance to referees states that players must be cautioned if they make inflammatory or provocative gestures, climb onto a fence or go into the crowd to celebrate a goal, or engage in excessive time-wasting.” said Andrin Cooper, from the FA media office.
But does it really do any harm?
“Players running towards the crowd can incite the crowd to surge forward, creating a safety risk. We have seen incidents where fans and stewards have been injured.”
This seems a bit anti-celebration?
“The priority is to allow goal celebrations while avoiding situations which involve safety issues or time-wasting. The referee must judge whether a player has infringed in celebrating a goal. If he has not, then he would not be cautioned.”
So the message for players is to celebrate with your team-mates, or with your own fans but at a distance.
Next, goal-line technology and video replays. Any plans to introduce them?
“The FA has always been open to discussions on goal-line technology if it is 100% reliable and enhances referees' decision-making.” said Andrin. “FIFA recently experimented with a ‘smart-ball’ technology at the World Under-17 Championship but this experiment has been discontinued due to unsatisfactory results.”
And even if the technology was up to scratch, the FA couldn’t act without FIFA adopting it.
“All such discussions would take place under the umbrella of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which oversees the Laws of the Game. They would also require FIFA's approval as the Laws of the Game are universal.”
And video replays?
“Again, this is something that would require FIFA's backing and Sepp Blatter has always expressed opposition to the idea of video replays which would require a break in play, and possible problems in restarting it.”
So the main thing is allowing the game to flow? Every fan will be happy about that.
“In all discussions on the subject of technology, the necessity of allowing the referee to make an instant decision has always been a key factor.”
Finally, the offside rule always causes argument. Does the FA feel recent changes to the rules have been successful?
“As this issue may be an item for discussion at the International Board it would not be appropriate to comment on this at this moment in time.”
So it is being looked at? Any experiments with alternatives going on?
“Again, this is a matter for FIFA and the IFAB rather than individual national associations. Neither we, nor any other national association, would be able to experiment unilaterally.”
It’s clear that any changes to the rules depend on FIFA. So that’s our next stop.
We’ll be asking FIFA these questions and more soon. If you have a question about the game that you’d like them to answer leave a comment and we’ll include all the goods ones.
Many thanks to Andrin Cooper and Mark Whittle at the FA for their help.