The Football League Paper

says... Goal-line technology is overdue...

LAST season Burnley manager Sean Dyche called for goal-line technology to be introduced in the Championship after his side were denied a ‘goal’ in their crunch clash against Brighton.

Just to remind you, Michael Keane’s header wasn’t given with two minutes left and the Clarets trailing 2-1. It was probably just as well that Keane then headed a stoppage time leveller to earn his side a point.

Afterwards, Dyche said: “It was a clear goal and it has to be viewed properly.

“I can only imagine that the technology will drip-feed into the Championship. There is so much at stake in the Championship and this is a great example.”

Yet there’s no sign of goal-line technology – that was launched way back in 2013 in the Premier League – drip-feeding down at the moment.

Last week, Conor Washington’s header for QPR against Blackburn was adjudged not to have crossed the line when it bounced down off the bar.

Television replays suggested the whole of the ball had crossed the line and QPR boss Ian Holloway was certain it had.

“It’s truly the first time I’ve ever scored a goal and lost 1-0,” he groaned.

If the Hawk-Eye system had been in place, we’d know definitively if the ball had crossed the line or not – but it wasn’t.

Surely the time has now come for it to be introduced in the Championship, if not the whole of the EFL.

Some will say it would cost too much money, but there are billions of pounds floating around in football at the top level these days. There are millions of pounds being squandered on parachute payments that reward failure.

Let’s put some of that money into ensuring we get the correct decisions. Clubs could miss out on promotion, and managers’ jobs and players’ livelihoods could be on the line if a ‘goal’ is or isn’t given. It’s time for the EFL to act.