8 Mar 2010FIFA rules out goal-line technology

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance | Football Technology and Stadia

Any further experiments with goal-line technology and video replays have been effectively ruled out by FIFA following a meeting of the International FA Board (IFAB).

Although the English and Scottish Football Associations are in favour of introducing technology, they were outvoted 6-2 on the IFAB by FIFA's four votes and those of the Welsh and Northern Irish governing bodies.

Shortly after the decision was announced in Zurich on Saturday (March 6th), Birmingham City were wrongly denied a goal in their FA Cup quarter-final clash with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Television replays showed that Liam Ridgewell's header crossed the line before being pushed out by goalkeeper David James, but the match officials failed to award a goal.

However, FIFA's general secretary Jerome Valcke insisted that "the door is closed" for video technology, despite the potential for high-profile errors at this summer's FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

"Technology should not enter into the game … The main part of the game should be humans - players and referees," he said.

Written by Tom Jenkins

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