Germans back calls for goal line technology

Germany midfielders Sami Khedira and Thomas Mueller have backed calls for goal line technology after Ukraine bowed out of Euro 2012 smarting at being denied an equalising  goal against England.

Germany face Greece in Friday's Euro 2012 quarter-finals in Gdansk and the German pair both said they hope the sport sees goal line technology introduced sooner rather than later.

On Wednesday, Sepp Blatter, the president of Football's world governing body FIFA, tweeted: "After last night's match (goal line technology) is no longer an alternative, but a necessity".

Ukraine exited following their 1-0 defeat to England on Tuesday as the co-hosts were denied a second-half equaliser when the referee Viktor Kassai waved on play although replays showed Marko Devic's shot had crossed the line.

As part of an experiment, this is the first European championship to have an assistant referee behind each goal, but there are calls to bring in technology at future tournaments to prevent further errors.

With England leading in Donetsk, Devic was denied a 62nd-minute equaliser although replays later showed England defender John Terry had cleared the Ukrainian's shot after it crossed the line and all five referees missed it.

"I think everyone has his opinions, but I really think that it can't hurt," said Khedira and Mueller agreed: "Fundamentally, technological aids are important and fair. It's always bitter (when referees make mistakes), but we are human beings, we make mistakes. There are things that happen to everyone."

This is not the first time the England team have been involved in a goal line technology controversy after midfielder Frank Lampard was denied a goal in the 4-1 World Cup defeat Round of 16 defeat to Germany two years ago.

The disallowed goal in Donetsk did not affect the line-up for the Euro 2012 quarter-finals as England and France qualified event though the Swedes beat the French 2-0 in Kiev.

In the quarter-finals, France play defending champions Spain in Donetsk on Saturday while England face Italy in Kiev on Sunday.

Ukraine shot was a goal: referee's chief

Uefa's chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina on Wednesday said that a Ukraine effort ruled out against England in their final Euro 2012 Group D match for not crossing the line should have been given.

"The ball crossed the line. That was unfortunate," Collina told a news conference in the Polish capital, Warsaw, the day after the match in Donetsk that England won 1-0.

Collina blamed human error for the call but said two similar decisions in the 24 matches so far played in the tournament had been correct, adding: "The third, unfortunately, was wrong."

 

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