New Ideas: Smith looking to the future Pic: ©STV
Gordon Smith, the Scottish Football Association chief executive, has criticised the out-dated views which have led to the dismissal of technology being used to aid football referees in making decisions.
A meeting of the International FA Board in Zurich voted against any continuing trials of goal-line technology which has also effectively ruled out the possibility of video replays. Smith feels the technology was sound, but the general consensus was that there is not place for technology in football.
“There was no problem with the technology and for me the sad thing is that this decision could have been made four years ago,” said Smith.
“It’s not based on the fact that technology is not good enough. It’s just an ideological idea that technology does not belong in football.”
Smith was also pushing for fourth officials to have more say in matches , but had the idea put on hold despite backing from FA chief Ian Watmore.
Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke expressed hopes the decision to rule out any introduction of technology won’t come back to haunt him.
He said: “Questions will always come; we just hope they will not come in the final of the World Cup.
“Technology should not enter into the game. The main part of the game should be humans – players and referees.
“Whatever are the mistakes – and yes there are mistakes – people will review the match and discuss what happened. But there was a clear statement that technology should not enter into the game.
“If we start with goal-line technology then any part of the game and pitch will be a potential space where you could put in place technology to see if the ball was in or out, whether it was a penalty and then you end up with video replays. The door is closed.”
