How will goal-line technology affect the lower leagues?
It’s coming
Goal-line technology could be introduced in the Premier League as early as 2012-2013. Having stressed the importance of technology in football in the past, I’m obviously chuffed to see actions being taken.
A question of disconnect?
Having already written a post about options using technology in football available (I’m all for nicking what rugby and American Football have done with video ref’s, by the way), I have been questioned by a few people as to whether the elite level game will become disconnected from the lower leagues. This is something that I’d not thought about in any detail and it’s actually a really good question.
Of course, you only need a ball to play football, this is what makes the game so accessible, and it’s the same basic gear whether you’re Sunday league or Premiership. If the Premiership game gets some form of goal-line technology then will it somehow separate the game for the first time ever? And, does it matter?
The stark reality
For me, the reality is that the game is already very different depending on the level played,that much is obvious, even from purely a monetary perspective. The consequence of lady luck shining on the wrong team that bothers me, with so much at stake (income specifically) at the higher level. It’s not acceptable for us to be in the dark ages of human error any longer.
I don’t see that rugby league is disconnected due to tech in their game, for example Super League having video ref’s vs amateur or semi-pro level. The game remains the game. I’d still argue that the money, media, attention and technology should increase in relation to each other – the technology is there to prevent costly mistakes, where it can be afforded.
What say you?
Comments
I think it should be like the tennis system.
2 chances to appeal each half, but if your appeal is successful it doesn't use up a challenge so you would still have 2 more.
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LikeTalking about technology, here is something you should watch.
http://www.ftbpro.com/posts/atomic.puzzle/66733/you-won-t-believe-until-you-see-it-best-shot-stopper-ever
Don't know really what purpose it serves but it sure is one hell of a S**T Technology.......... haha
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LikeI think the idea is right to have goal line and offside technology but worry about teams abusing appeals to time waste or disrupt a game
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LikeFootball itself does not change through goal line technology. The debate about football changes a bit. It seems that is a small price to pay for wanting to have correct decisions.
Good point made by nick_curtis01 , I would suggest the NFL-system of challenge flags (say, two per game for each coach, only allowed with questionable calls). Would that stop play much? I doubt it. Besides, it is not more time consuming than faking an injury or barking at the referee.
I think it is ludicrous to pass up the technology 'for the sake of the game', that's being conservative and stubborn. However, it might get you into the FIFA headquarters though.
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LikeI hate the idea of any technology to be honest and I think it will take from the game, Football is the worlds most popular sport for a reason, Rugby league and Tennis players were always defined by class, although you mention the monetary difference, is it all that different? like when you're faced with a wall of defenders and you know it will take something special to get past them, Are you really thinking about money when you unleash a burst a pace and try to get past him? I don't and I know you didn't when you were younger. As football is, its very easy to imitate our heroes. I'd rather that didn't change.
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Likei think modern football must have technology (video replay). I also think that the respective governing bodies should help clubs get it installed. If they did lower league clubs would be able to afford such technology. an example maybe that premiership clubs pay 80% of the cost, championship clubs 60%, league one clubs 40%, league two clubs 20%!
I do think that replays could be spread out further than goal line. for example for any decisions within the penalty area. each team gets one referral per game. if the team wish to refer a decision and it is upheld they keep there referral. if the decision is disagreed they lose there referral. similar to field hockey. this would bring the fourth official into the game more, as they could watch an instant replay and relay it back to main official.
but we would have to be careful if this was to happen, as a team who are confident in their appeals could ruin the flow of a game for example GB v Australia men's hockey at the Olympics. Australia ruined the pace of the game being set by GB with 4 referrals in the space of ten minutes play. they went on to win all referrals in the main but ruin GB's momentum at the time.
we shall just have to wait and see, but i'm glad video technology is going to be granted.
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LikeI don't think that disconnecting lower leagues from the Premiership would be an outcome of implementing Goal Line Technology into the game. It seems reasonable to only force the implementation upon clubs that can afford it, leaving it unfeasible for lower leagues to do so since many of them simply couldn’t afford it. However, when a team gets promoted into a higher league they get a bonus payment to help them cope with the added demands of the higher league. Goal Line Technology could be incorporated into these promotion payments as a requirement for those competing in maybe the top two divisions, or only the Premiership? As long as Goal Line Technology is consistent within a league then no one team could be alienated. If all of the Premiership gave GLT then everyone is in the same boat. If all of the Championship do not have GLT then everyone is in the same boat.
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LikeI think it's an irrelevant issue. It is simply too costly to implement this type of technology in some lower leagues. Any reasonable person knows this. I just don't want the argument that every league can't have goal-line technology, therefore no league should have goal-line technology to prevent the Premiership and other global football competitions from implementing it
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Likecompletely unrelated question here but; are you thinking of writing an autobiography of some sort after you've finished your playing career?
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LikeI love playing football and I get as angry as the next guy if a referee's decision goes against me. However, there are no pundits discussing my games back and forth, our players aren't paid to play and the consequences of a win or a loss are just that the players on the team go back to their families in a slightly better or worse mood. The game at the top level is too important to too many people - quite a few jobs depend on a PL team retaining their PL status - so removing this element of chance/error just makes far too much sense to pass up. It's all about cost/benefit. The benefits of a higher precision rate is not there in the lower leagues, it's there at the top level. When costs go down, it will be worth implementing further down.
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LikeI know that's not what your article was referring to, but I just think technology will lead to more disrespect of referees both in the Prem for other decisions, and in the lower leagues.
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LikeI just find it amusing that a lot of the time then reasons being said for giving goal-line technology are actually just really bad goal-line decisions. For example, the Chelsea vs Spurs one in the FA Cup. That was just terrible refereeing. Are we going to slowly move into a position where every decision will be questioned by the ref? People will be asking, "we have goal-line so why not for other things?". Is there really any difference between goal-line decisions and offsides? Both should be clear-cut and not down to interpretation. Would more technology really make it better?
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LikeNot before time! Football's 'big wigs' need to come to that the 'sport' is now a 'business' and will change the 'game' It won't sklow the game down. Players rolling around on the ground, play-acting, slow it down now, giving plenty of time for reveues.
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LikeDo they really need it? Some will say yes and some will say no. I think there is much more at stake in the 2 main leagues. The top two leagues obviously have more fans than the lower leagues. People from all over the world watch it. There are European places up for grabs within the top two leagues. I can't see a league 1 team winning the League cup or the FA cup so the L1 club won't get into Europe; so there is a lot more at stake.
The money that is getting spent by fans to go into the ground, they want to see a fair game. You can spend upto £70 on a ticket in a Premier League ground and most grounds are constantly sold out (bar 5under1and) so the amount of money being spent, we as fans deserve to see a fair game.
Me being a Newcastle fan, I'm not really bothered about the lower leagues but the fans of those leagues will obviously think different to me.
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LikeI agree with goal line technology, a video ref though? Not for me, i dont think the game can be stopped mid flow. The only option i think is, like in tennis, a teams captain can maybe challenge a decision once or twice a half what do you think?
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