- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 04:35 05:51 12:21 15:49 18:46 20:03
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur players block a shot from Chelsea's Juan Mata, which was controversially awarded as a goal, during their FA Cup semi-final match at Wembley Stadium in London, on Sunday. (REUTERS)
English football's governing body The Football Association has again called for the introduction of goal-line technology after a disputed goal in the FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Tottenham.
The call came after Chelsea went 2-0 up in Sunday's tie when Juan Mata's low shot hit a tangle of bodies on the Spurs' goal-line. Referee Martin Atkinson awarded a goal but television replays appeared to show that the ball had not crossed the line.
The sport's world governing body FIFA will soon begin testing versions of the technology and the International FA Board is to decide on July 2 whether to introduce it.
The FA said it hoped it would give the green light to its use, saying that it "has led the calls at IFAB for the introduction of goal-line technology for over a decade and we reiterate our desire to see it introduce as soon as possible".
"No other single body has called as strongly for its introduction as the FA," it said in a statement.
Chelsea eventually won the match 5-1, setting up a final tie with Liverpool, who beat Merseyside rivals Everton 2-1 on Saturday.
A number of Chelsea players, including captain John Terry, admitted that the second goal should not have been given, while Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said the incident demonstrated the need for technology to determine disputed calls.
"We can't keep going on like we're going at the moment with important decisions not being correct. The referees don't make mistakes purposely. It's a difficult job. He (Atkinson) obviously felt it was a goal," Redknapp said.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter changed his long-held opposition to technology following the 2010 World Cup incident when Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard was denied a clear goal against Germany.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho also backed the growing calls for the introduction of goal-line technology.
Both Manchester United striker Michael Owen and former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullitt made comments calling for the introduction of goal-line technology on their Twitter accounts.
With Real to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, first-leg, on Tuesday in Munich, ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho has echoed the calls to introduce goal-line technology as soon as possible.
"My thoughts about technology are the same as everyone else," said the 49-year-old Mourinho at a press conference here.
"I lost a Champions League semi-final with a goal that was not a goal, the ball didn't cross the line, so I defend the goal-line technology."
Mourinho was referring to the controversial goal scored by Liverpool's Luis Garcia which put the Reds in the 2005 Champions League final at Chelsea's expense when they went onto beat AC Milan in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
The Spaniard's fourth-minute strike in the Anfield semi-final, second leg, gave Liverpool a 1-0 win on aggregate following a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, but the goal needed confirmation from the match officials.
Coincidentally, Atkinson will be one of the assistant referees behind the goals at Munich's Allianz Arena with England's Howard Webb officiating the match, but Mourinho says he has no problem with that.
"There will be two very experienced referees tomorrow and they will have a privileged position to help the referee make the correct decision," he said.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.