TV ANALYSIS ON THE HORIZON

Goal or not? – England were denied this goal against Germany at the 2010 World Cup, even though TV replays clearly show the ball had crossed the line FOOTBALL’S international lawmakers have approved live trials of video technology to aid referees in what the new Fifa president Gianni Infantino claimed as an “historic decision”. The International FA Board met in Cardiff and announced afterwards that live trials will start in 2017. Jonathan Ford, chief executive of the Football Association ofWales, said trials were necessary to ensure it worked properly, but that if the experiment was deemed unsuccessful at the end of a two-year trial period the idea would be abandoned. “We don’t want to spoil the fluidity or the beauty of the game,” Ford says.“We want to ensure we have the benefits of video technology, but avoid some of the pitfalls.” Infatino’s former boss, the suspended Uefa president Michel Platini, was against using video technology, but the new Fifa president said it was an important step.“We have shown we are listening to the fans, and we are applying common sense,” Infantino says.“I will hope we see trials in as many places as possible in the world, but also in England and Scotland. I would like everyone to have an open mind about these things without prejudging what the results at the end will be.” The trials will involve pictures from a set number of multiple cameras being analysed by video referees. The match official will then be free to take the advice of the video technician or analyse the incident himself via an iPad-type device on the halfway line. Officials will only be called on in four defined “game-changing” scenarios: when a goal has been scored, penalty decisions, sending players off and possible cases of mistaken identity.