ZURICH: Goal-line technology in its present form will make its debut at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December. But a microchip GLT system has been tested at a FIFA competitive event.

That was at the 2005 World Under-17 Youth Cup in Peru in 2005. It was not a success. Belgian referee Frank De Bleekere later recalled: “I refereed a 0-0 draw but the technology told me the score was 5-3 – because it registered a goal every time the ball went over the bar.”

The debate over GLT regained momentum in England 2005 after a  Premier League game between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. United goalkeeper Roy Carroll failed to hold a long-range shot by Pedro Mendes and the ball slipped over the line before it was cleared. However, the referee and his officials waved play on.

In March 2010, the International Football Association Board shelved discussions over the introduction of GLT in favour of concentrating on the additional assistant referees (AAR) system supported by UEFA president Michel Platini.

However, the issue was forced back on to the IFAB agenda after events at the 2010 World Cup with Frank Lampard’s phantom goal for England against Germany. Although the ball clearly crossed the line after hitting the underside of the crossbar, the Uruguayan trio of match officials did not see it. Germany, winning 2-1 at the time, went on to win 4-1.

Last season’s Serie A title was influenced by a ghost goal in the AC Milan-Juventus top-of-the-table match. Milan were denied a 2-0 lead when Sulley Muntari’s header crossed the line, but was clawed away by Gianluigi Buffon as officials waved play on. Juventus hit back to draw 1-1 and went on to win the title.

The most famous goal line incident was at the 1966 World Cup final. England and West Germany were drawing 2-2 in extra time when Geoff Hurst’s shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down onto the line. After consulting his linesman, the referee gave the goal and England went on to win 4-2 amid German protests;

At the 1986 World Cup, Spain’s Michel saw a shot hit the underside of the crossbar against Brazil, bounce over the line and out again. The goal was not given and Brazil went on to win 1-0;

Ten years later at Euro 96, officials failed to spot that Dorinel Munteanu’s effort for Romania against Bulgaria had crossed the line in similar circumstances. Romania lost 1-0 and were eliminated;

Cameroon won the 2000 African Nations Cup final against Nigeria on penalties after their opponents’ fourth spot kick, taken by Viktor Ikpeba, hit the underside of the bar and bounced out.  Replays showed it had crossed the line, but the Tunisian referee did not award the goal. The result led to rioting outside the stadium.

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