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IFAB Board Meeting – No Progress on GLT. They need time…….!

And the game goes on and on..

FIFA announced that no decision is made yet on goal line technology.

The same pedigree as the past year. They wil continue to look for a good system and then it might be introduced.

Who believes that in this day and age no single company can come up with goal-line technology (GLT)? For FIFA (IFAB) it remains impossible to have a company pitch the system that thicks all their conditions.
Perhaps “What they want to see” is a company in which IFAB decision-makers (i.e. FIFA Execs) have a private interest. It is clear that the company who will receive FIFA’s blessing will make a killing. The “Chosen System” will be able to charge monopolised rents on its services as FIFA is clearly aiming to allow only one company’s patented system to decide on goal-line decisions.

The obvious neglected

Don’t we all find out by means of instant TV replay usually immediately whether a decision has been made correctly or not. A simple camera on the goal-line which is already there in top games will suffice without adding exessive costs.

Sports like basketball and american football use instant tv-replays. In case the instant-TV replay makes clear that the initial referee decision on the field was wrong the decision is overturned. Only when the instant TV-replay is undecisive or ambiguous, the initial decision will stand. Without much extra cost and time it will mean that all gravely wrong decisons will be something of the past.

It is my humble expectation that the folks running the decision are putting off any decision untill they have amde sure they can get a piece of the pie, which in the world of football means a pie full of sugar and cheddar.

The FIFA official media item on the IFAB annual general meeting that decided on post-poning any progress towards fairness in top football is avialabe on the FIFA site, here and here.

Who decides on rule changes to the game of Football?

Fifa? no, they are the 4 british FA’s together with Fifa, known as IFAB.

Find out more on the International Football Association Board here

IFAB is the Law

Gaffe of the week – Liverpool vs. Sunderland Ludicrous Penalty decision

Liverpool is clearly favoured by a gaffe from the assistent-referee.  Liverpool’s Spearing is brought down by Mensah but the tackle occurs clearly 1.5 metre outside the box. The referee Kevin Friend correctly whistled for a free-kick but then his so-called assistent worngly challenges that decision from 30 metres away, pointing out to the referee that is supposedly was a challenge inside the box. See the linesman running down the field on the photo below, making an important overturn while he is sprinting and his view inhibited by another Sunderland defender.

Hence, referee Kevin Friend changes his mind, disregarding the fact he was 10 metres away from the challenge when it happened, and overturned his initial call by giving away a penalty to Liverpool.

Result- Game over, Sunderland can not recover from this injustice and the Premier league has been stained once again. Sunderland fans who pay a relative fortune to see their team play in the Stadium of Light are gutted after being conned. Liverpool players end up excusing themselves for the the incorrectly given penalty. Coach Bruce is left moaning at the referee’s team, choosing his words very careful in order to prevent a hefty fine or ban. But has to confront the issue with force so none of his players will, who also risk being suspended if they send any negative remark out on such incompetence.

Gaffe of the Week – Arsenal condemned

Arshevin put through by a great pass, then goes around the goalkeeper to roll the ball in the empty net.
Unfortunately vital three points are lost for Arsenal.

These erroneous decisions that affect the top and richest clubs in the Europe might rather sooner than later mean they will move away from FIFA’s stranglehold on the rules and regulations of the game.

 

Blatter playing his usual game. No goal-line technology expected

Sepp Blatter has told CNN that FIFA have narrowed down some 17 goal-line technology systems to 4 possible choices.

 

The FIFA president said that the board will be taking a close look at all the systems in question and will decide whether or not to move forward with the implementation of such a system.

 

“Here in Zurich, we have tested 17 different systems and now three or four or five of them will go to the Board,” Blatter told CNN.

 

“The Board will then have the opportunity, first the technical committee will have a look on that and then there will be a recommendation, but if there is one of these systems that is accurate and immediate, and also not too complicated, then I think goal-line technology has a good chance to be accepted.”

 

Even though Blatter was open to the POSSIBILITY of goal-line technology being introduced, (which he most probably agreed too, too shut fans up) he doesn’t seam to hopeful that the ‘right people’ agreeing with it.

Written by  Paolo Marchesi

 

UEFA/IFAB sticking with Human referee-ing including human errors

Ifab and Uefa are launching campaigns to make footballing world acquainted with 2 extra referees. Human mistakes and even possible subjectivity remain at the basis important referee decisions. It is a matter of time before fans around the world will be dissapointed by grave referee errors decidingthe outcome of games. Two extra referees mean in practise that the leading referee pays less attention to situations in the box and instead will focus on other areas. The box referee will be relied on the judge most situations in the box. Last year’s Europa league confirmed that mistakes are still overly present and it is a big blow in the face of real football fans that their wish for games to be decided on sports merit only is denied once again.

What happened to te cry from people within the game asking for the use of video-evidence? Is it a coincedence that top coaches like van Gaal among others who expressed their strong wish for the addition of video-evidence are not present at this event?

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  Participants in Nyon pose for the group photo

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Published: Thursday 2 September 2010, 14.13CET

Elite club coaches back referee experiment

Participants at the UEFA Elite Club Coaches Forum endorsed the trial with additional assistant referees during discussions between Europe’s top club technicians in Nyon, Switzerland.

Europe’s top club coaches have lent their support to the trial with two additional assistant referees – an experiment that will be continuing in UEFA’s club competitions for the next two years.

The coaches gave a positive reaction to the trial at the annual UEFA Elite Club Coaches Forum in Nyon, in which UEFA and the coaches gather to discuss topics of mutual interest and debate proposals to further develop and improve the game.

Under the experiment, which was undertaken in last season’s UEFA Europa League, the referee, two assistant referees and the fourth official are accompanied by two additional assistants who take up positions alongside each goal. Their particular brief is to focus on incidents that take place in the penalty area, such as holding or pushing at set-piece situations.

“The coaches are very positive about, and look forward to, the experiment,” said UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh. “They’re aware of the problems of going down a technological route, and would like to keep things human if possible. This is an experiment to try and minimise errors. Everyone says it is definitely worth trying.

“This role of additional assistant referees is new, and has to be nurtured and developed – and the idea of having two extra eyes to look at the penalty area will help in the case of dramatic incidents,” Roxburgh added. “There is also a deterrent effect, in that there might not be so much pulling and pushing in the penalty area if players know there are extra eyes watching them.”

Following a decision by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in July, the trial continues at matches in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons, and in the UEFA Super Cup in 2011.

Goal-line technology firms dispute Fifa claims

Two of the 4 companies pitching goal line technology, address  fifa’s reluctancy to introduce goal line technology

By Daniel Emery Technology reporter, BBC News

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// Click’s Spencer Kelly looks at the potential technical ways to help football refs

Manufacturers of ball-tracking systems say England’s disallowed World Cup goal underlines the need for goal-line technology (GLT).

Hawk-Eye and Cairos, who make rival GLT systems, say Fifa needs to rethink its current position.

“We are using technology that is 100% accurate and adds fairness to the game,” Christian Holzer of Cairos told BBC News.

Fifa has consistently refused to entertain the idea of using GLT.

“Technology should not enter into the game. It was a clear statement made by the majority of the IFAB (International Football Association Board),” said Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke in March.

GLT can use cameras or magnetic fields to detect the ball.

But not everyone agrees. There have been calls from players, managers and coaches for a number of years, prompted by a series of controversial refereeing decisions.

British based Hawk-Eye, which uses a camera detection system, and German firm Cairos, which utilises chip technology inside the ball, both say that new technology would assist referees and make their job easier.

“The decision was unfair to the English team. Had it gone 2-2 at half-time, it would have been a very different match,” said Mr Holzer, managing director of Cairos.

The issue of GLT has dogged Fifa for more than a decade.

The “rules of football” are determined by the IFAB, which consists of eight voting members. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have one vote, with “the rest of the world” (ie the Fifa executive) holding the remaining four.

HAWKEYE SYSTEM – HOW IT COULD WORK
Six cameras positioned on the bylines, above and just in front of each goal. Cameras operate at a rate of 500 frames per second to capture very fast moving balls Images are processed by computers in real time. If ball is judged to have crossed the line, a signal is transmitted to the referee via a watch or earpiece within 0.5 seconds

The Football Association of Wales and the Irish Football Association – in addition to the Fifa executive – have been opposed to GLT.

‘Long-term issue’David Davies, a former executive director of the Football Association, told BBC News that the English FA had been pressing Fifa for GLT for years.

“The reality is that English football has been in favour of GLT for over a decade, but found itself a lonely voice in the football world.

“Whether that situation will change as a result of events remains to be seen.”

TV replays and press cameras clearly show the ball had crossed the line.

The two main rival systems have been used by other sports for some time.

Hawk-Eye – which uses a number of different cameras to track the ball – is now part of the adjudication process in both cricket and tennis.

First used during England and Pakistan’s Test series in 2001, the technology is now an accepted part of the game to determine leg before wicket (LBW) calls.

Its use in tennis was prompted by controversy. Serena Williams was knocked out of the US Open in 2004. TV replays showed that some of the umpire calls were wrong and although the decisions were not reversed, the Hawk-Eye system was installed for use in 2006.

‘Too expensive’The team behind Hawk-Eye envisages six cameras installed round the goal for use in football. The cameras are programmed to recognise the ball as the “object of interest” as opposed to the goalkeeper or other players.

The cameras can then accurately detect if the ball passes across the line, sending a “beep” into the referee’s radio should it be deemed to be a goal.

Fifa has raised a number of issues about GLT, saying the system is not accurate enough, is too expensive and would affect the “universality of the game”, in that World Cup matches would not have the same rules as a Sunday League game in Bradford.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said Sepp Blatter, president of Fifa, should be “embarrassed”.

“In the modern world we’ve got technology – let’s use it,” he said.

Paul Hawkins, who developed the Hawk-Eye system, told BBC News: “There is no question that it works and the game will be better for it.

“In terms of cost, just look at tennis. They have firms – such as Rolex – sponsoring their system. I have no doubt football teams will be able to do the same.”

The other GLT system – the Cairos Chip-Ball – uses a different method. Instead of camera technology, the ball itself is fitted with a chip.

CAIROS CHIP BALL SYSTEM – HOW IT COULD WORK

Thin cables installed below turf in penalty area and behind goal line generate a weak magnetic field Sensor inside the ball measures the magnetic field as it comes closer to goal. A transmitter in the ball sends encrypted data to receiver antennas Receivers behind the goal detect when the ball has crossed the line and transmit data to a central computer Central computer transmits alert to the referee as an encrypted radio signal in a split second

Mr Holzer told BBC News that this “chip in a ball” had no impact on the handling characteristics of play.

“The chip is right in the centre, in a very robust mounting.

“We’ve played hundreds of matches to see if it had any effect – including blind tests – and there was none,” he said.

Cairos says that the total weight of the device is 15g. The Jabulani match ball used in this year’s World Cup weighs between 420-445g.

“Fifa used our technology during the Fifa Club World Cup in 2007,” said Mr Holzer

“We think that using this technology adds fairness to the game.”

It is unlikely any change to the rules will be made before IFAB next convenes in spring 2011.

Goalline technology on IFAB agenda says Blatter

Fifa is inviting the same companies again to showcase their inventions. Remember last year these companies were send back to the drawing table as Fifa/Ifab did not find any technology good enough. Politics make te decision to use a technology will be important with Italian, British, German and Swiss systems are pitched in front of the Ifab board. In Fifactnow.org opinion the goalline camera already present can be used by officials to correct an egregious call, while disputed calls stands as initially called.

A hawkeye type of system will also be embraced for important international club and national team competitions

Blatter announced below news from Singapore august 10, 2010

(Reuters) – The issue of goalline technology is on the agenda for the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) October meeting, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Wednesday.

Blatter told a news conference in Singapore that IFAB, the body responsible for determining the rules of the sport, had agreed in their July meeting to put the issue on their agenda for their official gathering in Wales later in the year.

“At this meeting (in October), we will bring the point of goalline technology,” Blatter told reporters. “It is now on the this agenda.”

The debate on the of the use of technology was raised again when England’s Frank Lampard was denied a goal in their World Cup second round defeat to Germany in June despite television replays showing the ball clearly crossing the goalline.

Blatter, who is in Singapore to open the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, said that he was in favour of using technology to rule on such contentious decisions providing it was reliable.

“My personal opinion on goal technology has never changed, I have said if we have an accurate and simple system then we will implement but so far we have not had a simple, nor an accurate system.”

The 74-year-old, flanked by AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam, FIFA executive committee member Chung Mong-joon and Singapore FA president Zainudin Nordin, said that a number of groups would be able to present their solutions at the meeting.

“The Cairos-Adidas system said they will have something more simple and the Italian group presented by the Italian FA said they now have a system which is absolutely accurate.

“We have the Hawk-Eye again and then a Swiss watch company Longines, they said we have something that will beat everything so in this meeting all of these people can come and present their different items.”

(Writing by Patrick Johnston)

Swedish FA wants to use live TV to aid referees

Taken from Reuters, August 4.

Sweden interfering with Fifa. Maybe this is because of a grudge towards Blather for beating Johansson back in 1998 for Fifa president. Sweden must know that their club temas can hardly be punished by Fifa because they lack competitiveness and the national team is also going through a rough time. Fifactnow likes to encourage Swedish Fa in their battle for fairness and congratulate them for standing up against Fifa.

STOCKHOLM, Aug 3 (Reuters) – The Swedish FA has asked its top clubs to consider allowing fourth officials to watch live television pictures to avoid the refereeing mistakes seen at the World Cup, chairman Lars-Ake Lagrell said on Tuesday.

European Football

Lagrell told Reuters he would like the officials to be able to watch the television pictures viewers see at home but ruled out introducing goalline technology and video replays.

He has presented the idea to Sweden’s top-flight clubs and if they agree, the FA would then need to get approval from world soccer’s governing body FIFA to implement the plan.

“We don’t think that we will ever have them (goalline cameras) in football as it means too many breaks in play, studying film and so on,” Lagrell said in an interview at the Swedish FA’s headquarters.

“But we have seen another possibility that we can ask to be a trial country for, and that is to use the regular TV signal.

“We think that it (goalline technology) is a worse alternative than simply giving the fourth official the possibility to look at the TV pictures.

“With that (use of the live television pictures), you have a team of officials who referee the game exactly as it is today, but this way they get something to help them.”

Swedish referee Martin Hansson was widely criticised for missing Thierry Henry’s handball in the lead-up to a French goal that denied Ireland a place at this year’s World Cup. Lagrell said this could have been avoided by watching the TV pictures.

“That particular problem could have been solved using this system,” he said.

TRIAL PERIOD

More high-profile misses followed during the World Cup in South Africa, notably England midfielder Frank Lampard’s goal against Germany that was well over the line but was not given.

The mistakes led FIFA president Sepp Blatter, for years a stubborn opponent of goalline technology, to say the file on the subject would need to be reopened.

Lagrell said the size of FIFA and the differing levels of technological advancement in its member countries meant reaching a consensus would be difficult.

“It’s no coincidence that we’re asking about this because we are one of the countries that have TV production crews at every match in the Allsvenskan (Sweden’s top division),” he said.

“It wouldn’t be possible in the Superettan (Sweden’s second tier) as some games don’t have TV cameras present.

He added that comparing soccer to sports like rugby, which has used technology for some time, did not help.

Lagrell is awaiting feedback on the idea from the clubs before he can go any further.

“If the clubs in question think that it’s a good idea, then we’re prepared to ask if we can have a trial period in this country for one or two years,” he said.

“And if we’re not allowed, we have made an effort to fix it (the mistakes) and that’s that.”

Quietly postponing IFAB meeting on goalline technology

When the waters are calm again,  Blatter will discuss the necessary improvements to referee-ing. This might mean that the meeting will be better prepared. Sure Blatter will test opinion at Fifa’s member organisations. English FA’s stance on the issue will be important and it is hard to believe the FA not pressing for goalline video-evidence. Uefa has to tak the lead here too, to go ahead with referee aid regardless.

taken from monstersandcritics.com

Johannesburg – FIFA president Joseph Blatter said on Thursday that the debate about using technology in football will be delayed until autumn.

Blatter told a news conference that the responsible International Football Association Board IFAB would deal with the issue in October and not later in July as originally planned.

FIFA had put the issue on ice but poor officiating at the World Cup forced Blatter to re-opened the debate last week after big pressure. In the Round of 16 match between England and Germany, Frank Lampard saw a shot come off the underside of the crossbar and land clearly behind the goal-line, but Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda waved play on.

In the subsequent match between Argentina and Mexico, Italian referee Roberto Rosetti allowed Carlos Tevez’s opening goal for Argentina to stand even though the Manchester City striker scored it from a clearly offside position.

Blatter apologized to England and Mexico but also said that technology could only possibly be used for goalline situations and not issues like offside.