IFAB rules against goalline technology in football (Roundup)

Mar 6, 2010, 15:40 GMT

Zurich - The International Football Association Board (IFAB) ruled out at its meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich Saturday the introduction of goalline technology to help referees rule on controversial goals.

Instead the IFAB, which is celebrating its 124th anniversary, decided to stick with the rulings of officials rather than rely on a microchip ball from Cairos or the Hawk-Eye replay system which has been so successful in cricket.

'The question was whether we should allow technology in football and the answer was a clear no,' FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke told the subsequent press conference, adding that 'the door to technology has been closed for good.'

Ironically, immediately in the wake of the IFAB vote, Birmingham had a perfectly legitimate goal disallowed in its FA Cup quarter- final match against Portsmouth disallowed even though replays clearly showing that Liam Ridgewell's header crossed the line. Pompey went on to win the match 2-0.

IFAB also discussed the experiment with additional assistant referees currently in place for this season's Europa League and it was agreed that a final analysis of the experiment would take place at the end of the season.

A proposal by the Scottish Football Association to allow players to be treated on the field of play if the injury was sustained as the result of an offence committed against him by an opponent' was not approved.

The 125th IFAB Annual General Meeting will take place at Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales between March 4 and 6, 2011.