There’s been repeated calls for using goal-line technology in football for years. Fifa has stubbornly refused to implement it, pathetically quoting cost as one of the main reasons when they are one of the richest sports on the planet. I always said the real reason was that Fifa actually prefer all the controversy and publicity created by the constant arguments about whether a goal was a goal or not.
The same applies to why they don’t want to use a fourth referee or an immediate replay. They thrive on the upset, arguments and press coverage constantly created by all these incidents. To be fair, so do many of the fans. They love arguing about whether someone was offside or not, whether someone dived or not, whether it was a penalty, or a goal or not. Come to think of it, to a point, I think I do too.
After many years of claiming this I actually saw the chairman of Fifa let slip in an interview that “the fans love the debate created by a controversial decision” [my paraphrase].
It’s in the news today though we might be getting goal-line technology after all – Goal-line technology decision set for March 2012
Back in the last World Cup, after the infamous disallowed England goal which was subject to the was it a goal or not arguments, and the, did it cost us the cup or not debate I came up with my own, totally reliable low-tech solution 
My Low-tech goal line solution
Right behind the goal line create a small sand pit so the sand is flush with the rest of the pitch. If the ball hits the crossbar or post and bounces down towards the goal-line, instead of bouncing away – leaving no one any the wiser – it should just hit the sand and stay where it is. Then we can see if it crossed the line or not. If it didn’t stay where it was it would leave a ball print. After any incident, a young boy or girl can run round and rake it flat again. Simple, effective – no cost. (By jove, it’s crazy but it might just work)
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