Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore is optimistic that goal-line technology can soon be introduced into the English top flight with all 20 clubs keen on the idea as long as it is implemented correctly.
FIFA are due to finally rule on the issue next March, meaning the technology could feasibly be in place for the start of the 2012-13 Premier League season.
Scudamore said: “It’s out of our hands. FIFA, quite rightly, have said we’re going to set some strict criteria because if it’s going to work, it’s got to be accurate and it’s got to be timely. It’s got to be done almost instantly and we agree with that because it’s an interruption in play. We don’t want the play stopped if it’s in real time and it didn’t go over the line, the game should carry on.”
He added: “So we agree with all of that. FIFA have now laid out a timeline, they’re going to have a meeting in March and our hope is there will be a number of technology companies who are prepared to put some investment in to demonstrate that it does work.
“FIFA will hopefully approve those companies as having met the criteria which gives us the choice then to go and discuss whose technology we might use at our grounds.
“All we do know is the clubs unanimously want to do it as long as the technology is proven to be fast, accurate and affordable and we’re in a fortunate position in the Premier League where it’s more likely to be affordable to us than it is many other leagues.”
Scudamore did, however, rule out following cricket’s example and extending technological assistance to other areas of the game.
“I think it’s more difficult to think about the use of technology in other scenarios because of the subjectivity of it and it’s about the opinion of a match official,” he added.
“I don’t think it should be the opinion of a match official whether the ball was over the line or not because that’s something we can prove.
“Whether it was a foul or penalty or not, these are harder things to be so precise about so one would probably leave that at the discretion of the match officials, who in the main do a very good job, the accuracy level of linesmen is incredible.”
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