IFAB ends discussion: no goal-line technology

Monday 08 March 2010

The 124th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) was marked by the major decision to no longer pursue the development of goal-line technology.

‘The IFAB has decided not to pursue goal-line technology and to no longer continue experiments in that area’, explained FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke, Saturday in Zurich. ‘The question posed to the members of the IFAB was simple: should we introduce technology in football or not? The answer from the majority of members was no.’

The IFAB board consists of four British associations (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and FIFA. The four countries each have one vote, FIFA has four. As England and Scotland voted in favor of goal-line technology, Ireland, Wales and FIFA voted against.

FIFA, Ireland and Wales referred to the philosophy of the game. ‘We all agreed that technology shouldn’t enter football because we want football to remain human, which is what makes it great’, said Patrick Nelson from the Irish Football Association. ‘The fans keep talking about these matches again and again, and relive them.’

FIFA’s Valcke feared that the introduction of technology would not be limited to goal-line decisions. ‘Use it for offside and contentious moments and you end up with video evidence. That’s not what was decided. We want to keep the game as it is.’

The IFAB is nonetheless conscious that referees need assistance in making decisions, which is why refereeing experiments will continue. ‘Concerning additional assistant referees, which are being tested in the Europa League at the moment, we’re waiting for the end of the experiment at the end of the tournament before reaching our final decision on 18 May at a special meeting of the IFAB’, said Valcke.