Linesman stands by goal decision

The linesman who awarded the controversial goal that knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League today insisted he was “100% convinced” he made the right decision.

Roman Slysko, a Slovakian who is a doctor by profession, decided Liverpool forward Luis Garcia’s shot had crossed the line despite William Gallas’ attempts to clear the ball.

Slysko, 31, told the Evening Standard in England: “I believe that my decision was correct.

“My first feeling and which I remain convinced of is that it was a goal. I am 100% convinced that it was a goal.

“It was a very hard situation and in that kind of a situation a person only has a few hundredths of a second to react.

“From my information as well I understand that TV replays have also not been able to prove it was not a goal.

“I saw it clearly. In my view I was adequately positioned for that situation. There will always be these kind of situations in football matches everywhere“.

Liverpool won the semi-final 1-0 and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claimed Slysko had been intimidated into awarding the goal by the vociferous Anfield crowd.

Chelsea captain John Terry added: “The lads said the ball didn’t go over the line.

“William Gallas was in the way of the ball from where the linesman was but he gave it – which was a bad decision. If you’re not sure, then don’t give a goal.”

Chelsea’s fury has intensified the pressure on football’s authorities to speed up the development of new goal-line technology.

Goal-line technology using a ball containing a microchip is being trialled at FIFA’s under-17 world youth championships in Peru in September – and the Champions League is at the forefront of competitions which could introduce the scientific aids.

The ’smartball’ system, which sends an electronic message to the referee when the ball has crossed the goal-line or boundaries of the pitch, has been developed by three Germany-based companies: sports goods giants Adidas, Cairos Technologies and hi-tech communications firm Fraunhofer.

Adidas spokesman Thomas van Schaik said: “Even with all the television cameras in the ground it is extremely difficult to say for sure whether it was a goal.

“No doubt half of England thinks it was, and half thinks it wasn’t – but the linesman looked to be in the perfect position.

“With the smartball system the referee would be able to make the best-informed decision – he will have more information than the people in the stadium or the commentator on television.”

The developers have pencilled a date in February next year to present the trial results to FIFA, and if successful could target the Champions League as the first senior tournament to use new goal-line technology.

UEFA are currently inviting offers for the match ball for the Champions League between 2006 and 2009, and Adidas are understood to be very keen to maintain their role as official suppliers.

Part of their pitch to UEFA is likely to be that their smartball system could be used in the tournament in the future.

The FA would certainly back it and chief executive Brian Barwick has already made his support clear.

FA head of media Andrin Cooper said: “The FA have always been at the forefront of wanting to discuss goal-line technology and English football in the past offered to experiment with the technology.

“Our view is that technology that aids decision-making without disrupting the game should be explored.”

Dr Rogan Taylor, of the Football Research Unit at Liverpool University, said he accepted that hi-tech devices would be used in the future but that technology should not take over the game.

He said: “I am definitely on the side of those who do not want technology in this game.

“However, I am happy to see a fairly simple system, whether that is a camera on the line or a chip in the football.

“The beauty of football is that it is an unscripted drama which is the key to its intensity and emotional pull.

“The fact that human decisions inevitably fail and create tremendous argument is what makes the game.

“People love all that about the game.