Technology in Football

The passion and enthusiasms when it comes to sport especially the game of football or soccer as it is called, transcends age, race, or background. There are millions of fans all around the world that follow the game to the letter. 

           

I watch football, but I am not as much a fan as some people. I have friends who will do everything possible not to miss watching a football match even matches that have nothing to do with the team they support. I hear of bets all around the world with fans showing their commitment and allegiance to a club.

Due to the enormous fan interest in the game, controversial as it can go as well as where crucial decision is to be made, there have been some development in recent times which is the introduction of Technology into football. 

One of such which many are aware of is the Goal Line Technology.

According to Wikipedia definition, Goal-line technology (sometimes referred to as a Goal Decision System is a method used to determine when the ball has completely crossed the goal line in between the goal-posts and underneath the crossbar with the assistance of electronic devices and at the same time assisting the referee in awarding a goal or not. 

         The objective of goal-line technology (GLT) is not to replace the role of the officials, but rather to support them in their decision-making. The GLT must provide a clear indication as to whether the ball has fully crossed the line, and this information will serve to assist the referee in making his final decision.

Hawk eye technology uses a system of several cameras around the goal to track the ball and the system software creates 3D images which capture by triangulation the position of the ball in relations to the goal-line.

Another proposed way is to have a chip embedded in the center of the ball which if the ball crosses the line, an encrypted signal is transmitted to the referee via a watch or earpiece within half a second.

Historically, Technology in sport has been a very contentious issue but recently, there has been series of controversies in some matches that has left the fan venting their concerns, anger and dissatisfaction in the decisions by the referee and the match officials. 

About 3 years ago, Gordon Alexander Taylor, an English former professional footballer who played as a winger and has also been chief executive of the English footballers' trades union and the Professional Footballers association since 1981 has accused the game as being stuck in the past and says "referees need support.

'It’s amazing that football is behind the times in trying to achieve justice. It’s perverse,' Taylor told BBC Sport. 'I don’t know why we should expect to put all the onus on referees.'

He added: 'Football is way behind other sports when we think how successful it is being used in cricket, tennis, rugby and so many other sports".

"In this day and age, the technology is available and we should use it. We've got to do all we can to ensure that, in sport, justice is done."

I play Lawn tennis, though not at the professional level but I do watch Tennis matches and I see Technology being used during the game and the effect of its use is seen in the quality decision that is being made and I am an advocate of the use of Technology. 

We have seen in the World cup and even in the premiership technological innovation in the Vanishing spray contained in an "aerosol Can: containing water gas and other ingredients which when spayed is released in form of foam which later vanishes and leaving water behind. The foams is to ensure players keep a certain distance from the ball.

And also the Goal line technology which has help save the day in making accurate and final decisions.

The new talk of Video Technology to be introduced in the game of football which I believe is a good idea as replay will also help in decision making. There has been countless times when wrong decision has been made due to the myopic view of the official but with an helicopter view of video technology, right decision is guaranteed.

Knowing fully well, football is a huge business, we cannot afford not to place technology especially in order to ensure a quality and accurate decision.