Goal-line technology is a 'necessity', demands Blatter after Ukraine's cruel blow against England
By Sportsmail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 09:26 GMT, 20 June 2012 | UPDATED: 11:36 GMT, 20 June 2012
Football's most powerful man Sepp Blatter has demanded goal-line technology is introduced after Ukraine's heartache against England.
The co-hosts were denied an equaliser in Tuesday's crunch Group D decider that ultimately saw them crash out of Euro 2012.
John Terry hooked clear a shot from Marko Devic in the 62nd minute but replays showed the ball was clearly over the line.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter: 'After last night’s match #GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity.'
Ghost goal: John Terry's defending was magnificent, but Marko Devic's shot crossed the line in Donetsk
Ghost goal: John Terry's defending was magnificent, but the ball crossed the line in Donetsk
We all saw it: TV pictures show the ball crossing the line
Goalline technology: A computer-generated image shows the ball over the line
Blatter hopes to convince the game's rule-makers - the International Football Association Board - to give technology the green light.
Blatter became a convert to goal-line 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 behind each goal was the best way forward.
That left Platini red-faced after he made bold claims on the eve of the game about the effectiveness of five officials.
He said: '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.'
Job done: Roy Hodgson congratulates Wayne Rooney as England top Group D thanks to the striker's goal (below)
Platini also attempted to justify his opposition to goal-line technology.
'Goal-line technology isn't a problem,' he said. 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.'
However, the introduction of some form of goal-line technology is now virtually inevitable.
IFAB are expected to approve at least one of two systems that have been subject to in-depth testing when they meet in Kiev the day after the July 1 Euro 2012 final.
Hawk-Eye, the camera-based system made famous after being successfully introduced to tennis, and GoalRef, which relies on a chip in the ball, were both selected for further tests at IFAB's meeting in March.
One of them could be introduced for the first time at December's FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
England's friendly win against Belgium at Wembley this month witnessed a Hawk-Eye test, although the results were not made public.
Ukraine boss Oleg Blokhin was fuming over the incident and took his rage into the press conference where he offered a Ukrainian reporter to step outside for a ‘man conversation’.
Frustrated: Oleg Blokhin complains about the goal that never was
Pressure: England rode their luck at times but took all three points
‘The ball crossed the line by over a metre,’ said the Ukraine manager. ‘There are five refs on the pitch and the ball was over the line. Why do we need five refs then?’
Devic said: ‘If I’m honest, I didn’t see it at the time. But it was a big game, and it’s very sad. I think everyone in the stadium would like to have seen what would’ve happened if it had been 1-1 with not long to go.’
England boss Roy Hodgson said: ‘The important thing was John Terry did so well to hook the ball off the line. People can’t be 100 per cent certain. We’ve suffered bad luck in those areas before.’
Captain Steven Gerrard added: ‘To be successful in these tournaments, with the quality of teams you have, you need a bit of luck along the way. Two years ago with Frank Lampard’s goal it didn’t go our way. If you keep fighting and stick at it you earn that bit of luck.’
There was fortune too in England’s goal. Gerrard crossed low from the right and defender Yevhen Khacheridi, stretching to intercept, only succeeded in diverting it past his own goalkeeper to Rooney, who applied the finish from a yard.
It was his first goal in a major tournament for eight years and, after scoring, he celebrated by pretending to spray his hair, which is growing after a transplant.
‘I’d used Andy Carroll’s hair products and before the game he asked me to do it if I scored and so I did it,’ said Rooney. ‘Hopefully I’ll end up with hair like him.’
Comeback: Rooney made a welcome return to football following his ban
In the TV studio, Jamie Carragher said: ‘A boy from Croxteth should not use hair product!’
Italy await in Kiev on Sunday and Rooney believes the change of luck could help England beyond the quarter-finals for the first time since 1996. He said: ‘It’s a difficult game and will be quite evenly matched but we’re feeling confident. We’re difficult to beat and we’ve got players in the team who can score goals. It’s going to be a tight game but hopefully we can come out winners.
‘It’s always a great feeling to score. My overall game could’ve been a bit better but it was difficult because it was my first game for a while. Towards the end I felt a little bit tired. That’s natural and I’ll benefit from that time on the pitch.’
Gerrard was superb and Rooney added: ‘He’s a world-class player and I thought he was brilliant. He drove us on at times. His delivery has been exceptional. We’re lucky to have a player like that in the team.’
Passion: Steven Gerrard says his side are peaking at just the right time
Heart on his sleeve: Gerrard
England have not beaten Italy since 1997 but Cesare Prandelli will be without key defender Giorgio Chiellini who has a thigh injury. Ashley Young will be a doubt too after limping out of the Donbass Arena last night with a sore ankle.
‘I haven’t given Italy much thought,’ said Hodgson. ‘Most people didn’t think we’d get out of the group. Luckily we’ve proved that wrong. I’m pleased about that.’
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