Hawk-Eye selected by Premier League

Tony Cheeks - Are you a Yank mate?

This is the death of football. Goal line technology. Then what? Technology for offsides? Technology for red cards? Technology for penalties?

It won't be long before coaches are throwing flags into play and calling time-outs. In 15 years the game will be unrecognisable.

Am I the only one who thinks football is perfect as it is?

I'm sick of going to games and people watching the big screen more than the game. Sick of people watching through their camera phones as they record? Sick of the twat who sits two seats away from me listening to his fucking headphones all game.

This is football! The game we love. Don't ruin it.

Don't really want it, what makes football, football is the sense of injustice. I'd rather have "steevie gerrard swan dive cam" that automagically kicks players in the nuts and awards a yellow card for theatrical dives, automatic red if they also grab the ball before the ref has blown any whistle of stops play.

I would not like to see the introduction of replays during play as it would ruin the match – the ball doesn't always conveniently go dead when a critical decision needs to be made. All that should happen with goal-line technology is that the ref gets some accurate information to help him make the right decision.

I wouldn't mind at all if they introduced technology/Hawkeye for wrestling/grappling in the box, remember Carrager on Lescot and what Fellani as had to suffer at clubs like Stoke, the refs aren't interested, bring it on!

Technology ruined cricket, it was the final nail in the coffin of rugby league (in Australia at least, but not sad about that to be honest) and is an absolute parody in American sport.

Can anyone imagine how shit the week would be if we didn't get our moan on about a bad call costing us, or nearly costing us, or whatever? It's what makes football great.

A simple game for humans. Played by humans. Watched by humans. Run by humans.

Goal line technology would of got us relegated back then. This can go either way for any team.

"We don't want them there computer thingies round ere, the devils work they are I tell ye!"

Get with the times!

You will get used to it, and to say there will be nothing to discuss is bollocks, if Moyes is still here we will still talk about his shit subs and how badly gash Naismirh is.

I'm not advocating cameras on every single decision, I'm just sick of losing points unfairly, particularly goals ruled wrongly offside. And don't say they even themselves out!

Everyone can probably recall all the controversies over the last decade when a ball was over the line but a goal not given (and vice-versa). The number of such instances in the PL must still be in single figures. Compare that with the number of times a goal has been disallowed for offside incorrectly or the number of times a goalscoring chance has been denied because a player has incorrectly been blown up for being offside.

And the technology for deciding these situations already exists through the use of a TV monitor. For instance, the line across the pitch denoting the position of the last outfield player, as already used by Sky etc, could be in constant use during a game and the calls made by an official looking at the monitor, with the game continuing unless the ref is told by this official of an offside, either through his ear piece or, better still, a pitch-side light.

What happens when the ref blows up for off-side when the tele shows he wasn't?

"Get with the times! You'll get used to it."

I've got used to diving, has that made football better?

I've got used to players demanding £250k p/w, has that made football better?

That argument is so weak Steven Naismith could outmuscle it.

Football has enough dead time as it is. Of 90 minutes the ball is only in play for 60ish most games. The last thing we need is more stoppages.

As for all this, 'It'll add a new sense of drama'. Please. If you want big screen entertainment then take yourself to Tom Cruise' latest offering.

As much as I love Everton, I fully expect myself to be supporting a Conference side in the next 15 years. The top flight is really starting to reflect everything I hate in society, where 'fans' care more about transfer fees, wages, who their star player is shagging than the football on the pitch. Then you've got Adrian FUCKING Chiles imparting his views on the latest 'hilarious' haircuts to grace the Premier League.

The game is run, funded and supported by corporate goons and YouTube experts.

All hope and enthusiasm is fading fast...and I'm only 28.

It has to happen because officials in this country can't be trusted to make the right decisions unless in favour of certain clubs. I mean, come on, did you see the Hibs goal the other week? Probably goal of the century chalked off as not having crossed the line yet it was at least a yard over if not more. This shite cannot be allowed to carry on with so much at stake.

One is a negative facet that has crept in to the game, which I don't like myself, the other is an idea brought in to support referees and bring a positive change.

If we lost to the shite in a cup final because of a goal not given, what would you think then?

I agree on Chiles, I'd love to punch him right in the kidneys!

If we lost to the RS in a cup final due to a good goal not been given then I would obviously be distraught. That still wouldn't make me think we need technology.

I think the argument that is yet to happen is when exactly all the ball has crossed the line.. For me, and I think most, a goal is when the part of the ball touching the grass is no longer on the white line, but the rules state that it needs to be further than this with the closest part of the ball to the line no longer above the line... yep, I'm crap at explaining.

For me, goal line cameras, quick offside decisions by the fourth official, and retrospective punishment for divers/terrible tackles would be enough.

It's not about moving forward, it's not about thinking we'll win more games because of it. It's about ruining sport and the spectacle. I know it's only goal line technology now, but the offside camera replays will come too.

Someone mentioned the lbws in cricket. When the third umpire came into cricket, they weren't allowed to use it for lbw. Only run-outs, stumpings and catches. Now, it's everything.

Anyone who thinks technology won't drastically change the game and ruin it for the spectator, AND take away the integrity of the officials involved just needs to watch one game of televised NRL. The referees are an absolute waste of space in that sport.

Anyway, for those that are complaining that it will slow the game down, this is incorrect. If the ball crosses the line a signal will be sent to the ref, who will then signal the goal has been awarded. Unless the ref signals a goal, the game will simply continue – it’s that old rule of playing to the whistle. NSNO

OMG.

I've always thought there was something odd about the way you viewed the game and pontificated on these pages... now you've confirmed it!!!

Just one question: If it's not touching the grass at all — ya know, like flying into the top corner — is it only a goal when it lands on the grass?

I also agree with Wenger: it shouldn't stop with goal-line technology — it should be used for offside as well. Blatter has used the extra 2 officials instead of technology and it has been a disaster. So where we can take human error out of the equation then we should.

This isn't about goal line technology. It's about the precedent it sets.

Do we really want every decision going to a referral? So every decision results in 35,000 fans looking at a big screen, clapping like trained seals.

Football is full of imperfections. Players, referees and even us fans - sometimes they make all your wildest dreams come true, sometimes you curse their very existence. That is exactly how it should be.

I fear the main issue here is people thinking their team get shafted and believing that bringing in an exact science will right these wrongs.

Maybe it will - but it will be at the expense of the beautiful game.

I hear pundits saying that referees NEED to get these decisions right. That it's the difference between relegation and promotion - that people's livelihoods are at stake.

Well I'm sorry, but that's sport for you. If you choose to get involved in that industry then these are the risks you take.

So far, the only decent argument I've heard for technology in football is that it will stop favouritism towards the bigger teams. The FA could go a long way towards curing that problem themselves. Nothing makes me cringe more than when you lip-read a referee saying, "Wayne, calm down" or "Stevie, if you're gonna two foot him keep it below the knee." Phil Dowd is an absolute pecker for it. They are there to officiate a game, not to make friends. Call players by their number and cut out all this nonsense.

Let referees make statements after the game. I don't want them to be going on MOTD - but a written statement would be much appreciated. It even gives them the chance to say, 'Look, I got that one wrong.' These are humans after all.

We are going to end up with no referee and play being officiated from some little rats nest in the rafters. That's not the game I played in the park growing up.

What I would like to see is video referral and retrospective refereeing introduced. Maybe each manager could suggest up to 3 incidents per game that he wants reviewing. It wouldn't change the result but it could punish/exonerate players. Might force some of these childish dickheads a bit more honest.

'If the technology is there then use it.'

Why don't we give players metal clad boots and magnetise the football?

Why not rig the nets up to a massive amplifier so it makes a wicked cool noise every time a goal is scored?

Yeah, yeah, technology!

I think you have answered your own doubts you say "the main issue is fans thinking their teams get shafted and this will right the wrongs" exactly Phil!! you even agree that it will get the right decision so where is the problem.

This will in no way impact on the beautiful game, it wont stop players displaying their skills but it will ensure that the decision on whether a goal has been scored will be correct.

I agree with Patrick above, I always felt that Bolton's 1997 goal not being given was justice, because of a foul in the build up. How annoyed would you be if it went to a video ref who clearly saw the foul but had to ignore it and then gave a goal because he did have the power to overrule the ref on the line call.

Also those saying the ref could be informed within a second are joking surely? Many of the close calls take a good few views before a decision can be reached, and even then it's not always conclusive.

Yes Brian, technology will indeed get some decisions right that would otherwise be have been given wrong. I don't think anybody ever in the whole wide world has ever questioned that fact so god knows why your laying it at my door.

I have, quite clearly I thought, stated that I believe this use of technology will destroy football as we know it. If you want an exact science then please, go fuck about on a calculator.

Jimmy Kelly raised a great point about when video technology inevitably comes in. One incident is reviewed and awarded/disallowed. Another, the ref just makes a decision and it's the wrong one. Massive can of worms and it happens every week in Australia.

What Phil described is actually what happens. A stadium full of fans having to watch a screen at one end for some corporate logo to flash red or green and then they're allowed to cheer.

Right decisions, wrong decisions, with the exception of the Derby, it usually evens out.

For the record, with video technology we would have lost the derby this season.

As for the derby, video technology would have seen Suarez sent off before there was any debate about a goal that he should not have been on the pitch to score, we'd have won.

The issue is more what comes next. For starters, they're going to want to make more of these Hawkeye installations to get some value back to cover the costs – I'm sure we'll be seeing more data on speed / exact positioning of shots/goals, goalkeeper's movement at penalty shoot outs, etc.
Then maybe starting to watch the dead ball line for corners...

The big one of course is the use of video (technology already well in place with multiple camera angles) which is divisive but probably inevitable ultimately. For my twopenneth I think the discussion of controversial decisions is a large part of being a football fan and removing this does feel like it would chip away at the soul of the game.

That said, I and thousands of others are no doubt feeling somewhat cheated this year especially by a succession of bad decisions that could ultimately cost us a CL spot.

One solution would be to follow the Tennis approach and offer teams a number of official appears per match (say 3 for the sake of argument), these could be for anything from free-kicks and yellow card decisions up to penalties and disallowed goals. If a decision was appealed then the 4th official (or a TV specialist) would run the video and feedback to the referee whether the decision was supported or overruled. The match would then continue with the correct decision. If the challenge was correct you get to keep the appeal, if not you lose it.

By limiting the number of appeals you're left to cover only the most contentious issues of the match and so not slowing play repeatedly and also making the teams think about how they react.

In an ideal would you could also tie these appeals into player behaviour – ie, if players remonstrate with and surround the referee that could count as demanding an official appeal and any out of order language or confrontation against the ref could even lose the team a challenge – both of which would cut down on the scenes of players contesting every little thing.

Ultimately this sort of setup could be better for the game as it would take a bit of pressure of referees who do currently have a pretty impossible job.

It really depends on how this tech is used and how far they want to take it. I just see some moves as positive and some negative. As long as the balance is right then I will be happy to see the blatant cheating removed from the game. How do people feel about the Tiger Woods situation. Has technology created a monster? All cheating is wrong and if we can cut it down to a minimum then I for one will be glad of its use.