www.independent.ie GAA to review HawkEye use
Referee chief Barrett open to expanding use of technology
THE GAA’s Referees Development Committee chairman Willie Barrett is open to extending the use of HawkEye to include goal-detection technology after the ‘ghost goal’ controversy in Tipperary’s thrilling draw with Waterford on Sunday.
Barrett acknowledged that “human error” saw the goal given and since Sunday’s game the introduction of a video referee to review such incidents has been suggested in some corners.
Barrett is open to exploring whether the HawkEye system, which currently only detects whether a point has been scored or not, could be expanded to include goal-line technology.
“It was a big call and unfortunately on the day human error got it wrong,” Barrett said. “We have to acknowledge that an incorrect score was given to Tipperary.
“Going forward, how best can we assist umpires and referees in decision making and goals?
“I think scores are the most important thing because they win matches. We have a point detection system with HawkEye in Croke Park and Thurles and we have to look at the possibility of extending that, particularly with the way the hurling championship is in Munster and Leinster at present. I think that is something we will be reviewing.
“Obviously we can’t bring it in for this year, I don’t think. But in future we must try and ensure we have, where possible, detection systems for all scores.
“That’s my view on it. I think we could extend, not just in terms of venues but the use of HawkEye for not alone points but goals as well. And I think that’s something we’ll review at the end of the championship season.”
A review is pencilled in for next week with Barrett revealing that referee Alan Kelly was “hugely disappointed” with the decision.
“We’ll certainly review (the goal) next week. That is pencilled in anyway so that will go ahead and will be a part of the discussion.
“Alan Kelly is hugely disappointed with the fact the goal was given by one of his umpires. The umpire thought he was giving the correct decision.
“But at the end of the day it was incorrect and you can’t hide from that fact that it was an incorrect decision that allowed a team to get three points they shouldn’t have got.
“The game ended up a draw, the ramifications of it we don’t know – they will be seen later on. But from my point of view we need to provide support
for referees and umpires as much as possible to have things right on the day.
“All those things must be pulled together to ensure what happened with the goal shouldn’t have been allowed and shouldn’t be repeated.
“We accept that players put in a huge effort in the championship. And with the games coming thick and fast you don’t have much time to dwell on it but you have to have things as right as humanly possible for them.”
THE closest England could get to an outrage was leaving Joe Hart at home and deciding Jonjo Shelvey was probably not the new Andrea Pirlo. Leroy Sane, on the other hand, would have been carried head-high into Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Sane’s omission by Joachim Loew is a declaration of German strength as well as a sharp reminder of the quality arrayed against Southgate’s men in Russia.
A dazzling presence in the Manchester City side who won the Premier League at a canter, Sane evidently paid the price for not matching those standards at international level in a more central position than he occupies for Pep Guardiola.
The scary part is that Loew was able to opt for a player, Julian Brandt, who is tipped for global prominence by those who study Germany’s development system.
In other words, Germany had too many good young players and elected to go without one who scored 14 times for Guardiola’s English champions.
The news broke on the same day Brazil were rejoicing over Neymar’s comeback from injury and Mohamed Salah’s presence for Egypt was confirmed, though Liverpool’s finest player is likely to miss his country’s first game.
SAILING
England are sailing towards Russia on calm seas, with a clear playing style, a clever manager and a handful of attacking players capable of hurting opponents.
Optimism would be too strong a description of the mood around their camp but greater selfassurance and calm are visible. Only when the comings and goings of the game’s real superpowers are considered can England’s odds of 20-1 (best price) be measured.
In one manic Monday, Russia 2018 ceased to feel like a political football floating around the summer and started to be a process of hard decisions around tactics and individual talent.
The list of players not required in Russia is formidable: Sane, Anthony Martial, Cesc Fabregas, Mauro Icardi, Radja Nainggolan, Javi Martinez, Dimitri Payet, Alexandre Lacazette, Karim Benzema, Alvaro Morata, Marcos Alonso, Hector Bellerin and Ruben Neves. In this context, Hart and Shelvey can feel less aggrieved.
In 12 outings for Germany, Opta say Sane had provided one assist and no goals. He made Germany’s provisional 27-man squad and even played 67 minutes of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by Austria, which left Loew irritated.
A day later, Sane joined Bernd Leno and Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg’s Nils Petersen in the search for last-minute luxury holidays.
The Premier League gasped to see such a potent player shoved aside, but in Germany team structure is more highly valued and Loew’s judgment generally trusted. Why would it not be after the Mannschaft became the first European team to win a World Cup in the Americas?
“It was a tight decision between him (Sane) and Julian Brandt which went in favour of Brandt,” Loew said.
“There are better days in the life of a national team coach, when you have to send (home) four amazing players, who deserve to be at the World Cup.
“(For them) it’s like being at the airport check-in en route to Moscow and you are not allowed to board the plane.”
Coaches play Russian roulette with public opinion in these areas and hardly any get to arrive at a World Cup controversy-free, which is why Southgate has been so fortunate – or played his hand so well.
In France, Didier Deschamps may stand or fall by his rejection of several major talents in a squad where personal chemistry is a national fixation.
Manchester United’s Martial, however, can hardly claim to have mesmerised the Old Trafford crowd last season.
Belgium have taken the other kind of risk, picking City’s Vincent Kompany despite his latest injury.
Neymar, who scored against Croatia at Anfield, has danced back on to the stage with classic thespian timing. Here, Brazil possess a household name capable of relegating Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus to junior roles.
Neymar underwent foot surgery in March and was not seen in the warm-up at Anfield, where he replaced Fernandinho at half-time, yet the World Cup favourites departed Liverpool emboldened in their quest to bury the memory of their 7-1 defeat by Germany on home turf in 2014.
England lack a world-class No 10, or dominating central midfielder, but they do have players who might seize their chance to be international luminaries. Sane is now one less danger for them to worry about. (© The Daily Telegraph)