Collina defends extra official
John Terry clears the ball but replays suggest it had already crossed the line
UEFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has leapt to the defence of the additional assistant referee experiment after FIFA president Sepp Blatter declared Ukraine's European Championship defeat to England made goalline technology "a necessity".
The Euro 2012 co-hosts were denied an equaliser in Tuesday night's 1-0 Group D loss in Donetsk when officials failed to spot Marko Devic's shot cross the line. Blatter, who wants the International Football Association Board to give technology a go - posted on Twitter: "After last night's match £GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity."
But Collina, once widely regarded as the world's best referee, said the mistake was the first failure in "thousands of matches" in which five officials had been used. "This is the only problem we have had," he said. "It's one negative decision in three years of Champions League and two years of Europa League and 24 matches in the Euro."
"I would be very happy to know if the same questions would have been asked without yesterday's decision," he added.
Blatter became a convert to goalline technology after Frank Lampard was denied a legitimate goal in England's 2010 World Cup defeat to Germany.
That failed to convince UEFA president Michel Platini - the favourite to succeed Blatter as the most powerful man in world football - who remained wedded to his belief additional assistant referees (AARs) behind each goal was the best way forward.
Yet, Tuesday night's referee, assistant referee and AAR all failed to spot Devic's shot had narrowly crossed the line before John Terry's acrobatic clearance prevented it hitting the back of the net.
That left Platini red-faced after he made bold claims on the eve of the game about the effectiveness of five officials.
He said on Monday: "With five, officials see everything. They don't take decisions without being fully aware. There's also a uniformity of refereeing. For example, they don't call unintentional handballs. That uniformity has led to more flowing football."
"Goal-line technology isn't a problem," Platini added. "The problem is the arrival of technology because, after, you'll need technology for deciding handballs and then for offside decisions and so on. It'll be like that forever and ever. It'll never stop. That's the problem I have."
related stories on msn
Dont get me wrong they should have the technology, i just hate the way it took England to get lucky for it too happen.
GLT is a NECESSITY????????
I hate to say it, but clearly Blatter IS Anti-England.
I didn't want to beleive it, but it's true, this is the same bloke who said after the last World Cup said GLT is NOT necessary, now it is?
Much like how Penalty Shoot outs need to be dropped after Chelsea won the Champs League.
There's just no doubt about it anymore, he has a HATRED of England and should be deposed, and Platini should go too.
BRING IN PELE & BOBBY CHARLTON, now that's a great team.
@ someone this is a debate about goal line technology not have a go at the England Team . You don't think we have a chance of wining the Euros that's your opinion and you are entitled to it but if it bothers that much dont bloody watch it . People like you get on my **** you are the sort of person who is constantly having a Bitch but half the time don't have a clue what you are talking about .
Blatter wants to have the 1966 World Cup Final replayed on account of the disputed third goal. The fact that three West Germans tested positive for drugs after the match appears to be irrelevant.
Whereas England must field their original team as far as possible, Banks, Cohen, Wilson, Stiles, Charlton J.,Hunt, Charlton R., Hurst, and Peters, (West) Germany can field their current team. Platter has kindly authorised Norman Hunter and Terry Paine to replace Bobby Moore and Alan Ball.
If by a miracle England win again, Platter will demand another two games be played to make it the best out of three. Whatever happened to Blatter in his childhood for him to hate England so much?
