Hawk-Eye: Good enough for Fifa, but not yet for the GAA

A company approved by Fifa’s international board to introduce goal-line technology had proposals to deliver a similar product for the GAA knocked back.

Hawk-Eye, who have been in negotiations with the GAA to trial the system in Croke Park this year, have had their starting date delayed until they are convinced it stands up to wind conditions.

The trial period has been postponed and while the GAA is hoping to trial it in August at Croke Park, the Irish Examiner understands it may be not be ready until June next year.

However, goal-line technology was approved into the laws of soccer at an historic decision by the International FA Board (IFAB) yesterday.

Two systems, Hawk-Eye’s and GoalRef, were approved by the IFAB after passing a series of scientific tests. Technology could be introduced into the Premier League as soon as the new year following the decision at a meeting in Zurich.

The Premier League wasted no time in hailing yesterday’s decision, releasing a statement straight after the announcement saying that the technology will be introduced in to England’s top division as quickly as possible.

“The Premier League has been a long term advocate of goal-line technology,” the statement read.

“We welcome today’s decision by IFAB and will engage in discussions with both Hawkeye and GoalRef in the near future with a view to introducing goal-line technology as soon as is practically possible.”

FA general secretary Alex Horne said the Hawk-Eye system installed at Wembley for a trial last month is still there — and could be switched on, tested and licensed for FA Cup and perhaps England matches at Wembley.

Horne said: “It is perfectly possible to introduce it halfway through the season. We have already got Hawk-Eye at Wembley, it needs to be calibrated and make sure it’s working properly and licensed so we are nearly there and we could turn Hawk-Eye on quite quickly.

“The FA Cup would be our decision and we could say for the semi-finals and finals of the FA Cup we could turn it on, I don’t think that is a very controversial decision.’’

Fifa president Sepp Blatter admitted he had changed his mind about goal-line technology after Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal for England against Germany in the 2010 World Cup, and highlighted again after Ukraine were denied a goal against the Three Lions in Euro 2012 despite the ball having crossed the line.

Blatter said: “For me as Fifa president it became evident the moment what happened in South Africa in 2010. I have to say ‘thank you Lampard’. I was completely down in South Africa when I saw that. It really shocked me, it took me a day to react.

“It happened again in Ukraine, and Ukraine can still not believe it now.”

Blatter insisted however that there would be no move to introduce any video replays or other technology to rule on other decisions such as offsides, fouls or diving.

He said: “Other than the goal-line technology, football must preserve its human face.”

The first introduction of the systems will be at FIFA’s Club World Cup in Japan in December with each system in one of the two stadiums.

It will then be extended to next year’s Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Uefa president Michel Platini is a fierce opponent of technology so it looks certain the Champions League will continue to use the extra officials and goal-line technology will not be used even if the systems are available in the stadiums.