A revolutionary ‘goal decision system’ will be in place for the first time at the Community Shield match between Manchester United and Wigan at Wembley this Sunday.
Manchester United are used to being involved in monumental football games, but in this case the focus might not be on them.
The goal-line technology system – which will be used at all Premier League venues as well as Wembley – was unveiled yesterday at the Emirates stadium.
“This is one of the biggest changes that have happened in the 150 years since we conceived the laws of the game and it is fitting that it is happening in our 150th anniversary year,” FA general secretary Alex Horne said.
To honour the landmark occasion MM remembers some of the most baffling and worst goal line decisions in the game’s history.
5. Watford (0) 2 Reading (1) 2, 2008
This fixture doesn’t normally get pulses racing but a ‘ghost goal’ attracted significant media attention from around the country.
Reading took the lead when the linesman farcically flagged for a goal instead of a corner. The ball went over the by-line, but a few yards wide of the post.
Despite no-one even claiming for a goal, the linesman thought it had gone in!
4. Tottenham (0) v Manchester United (0), 2005
Manchester United have benefitted in the past due to not having goal-line technology.
The infamous and controversial Mendes goal that should have stood against the Reds after a clumsy Roy Carroll spill saw the ball fly into his own net.
Carroll luckily escaped complete humiliation as the goal didn’t stand, but replays showed the ball was more than a foot over the line.
Referee Mark Clattenburg made the poor decision which earned the Reds a draw in 2005 and helped them to a 3rd place finish in the league.
3. Chelsea (0) v Liverpool (1) 2005, Champions League semi-final.
One of the more publicised refereeing blunders is Luis Garcia’s notorious ‘ghost goals’ which was scored in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.
Liverpool ultimately won the tie by a single goal from the Spaniard, awarded by referee Ľuboš Micheľ, and described as ‘a goal that came from the moon’ by Chelsea manager Mourinho.
Television replays were inconclusive as to whether the ball crossed the line. Micheľ said that his decision was based on the reaction of the assistant referee.
2. England (1) v Germany (4) 2005, Euro 2012 quarter finals
A high profile example is the goal which England’s Frank Lampard embarrassed Fifa’s ruling body with, in Bloemfontein, after his thunderous strike against Germany.
On the 39th minute the Chelsea man sweetly struck a shot that thundered against Manuel Neuer’s cross bar bouncing downwards at least a foot over the line.
However, the goal was denied by Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda. To add insult to injury Lampard’s strike came during a spell of England dominance and would have levelled the score at 2-2.
As the decision was not given correctly England went on to lose 4-1 to the Germans.
1. England (4) vs West Germany (2) 1966 World Cup Final
Perhaps the most famous instance where goal-line-technology would have been in affect was in the 1966 World cup at Wembley.
With the game in extra-time England took a 3-2 lead thanks to a ‘goal’ from Sir Geoff Hurst.
The shot crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced down onto the white line. Even now it remains inconclusive whether the ball was in or not – but who cares – England won the World Cup!
Shocking decisions such as these have helped supporters of the pro-technology campaign sway dinosaur officials and regulators that were against the system.
To ensure officials can consistently make the correct decisions the Hawk-Eye system uses 14 cameras that send a signal within a second to the referee’s state-of-the-art watch and ear-piece indicating that the ball has crossed the line.
Sunday will see the Red Devils take to the field to face newly relegated Wigan, the match will be watched by FIFA bosses around the globe to see if the ‘Goal decision system’ can work effectively.
Costs are estimated at £250,000 per ground that can be paid over the four years with additional unspecified operational costs each season.
Image courtesy of BBC via Youtube, with thanks
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