Experts divided on goal-line technology

The need for goal-line technology in African football has again been emphasised following the controversial goal Vincent Enyeama conceded when Nigeria beat Ethiopia 2-1 in Addis Ababa on October 13 in the first leg of their World Cup qualifying playoff.

In the match, Enyeama appeared to have caught the ball behind the goal line but he insisted it was never a goal as he accused the referee of making a wrong call.

And before that heated moment, defender Godfrey Oboabona had cleared the ball off the line in the first half in what seemed to be a clear goal for Ethiopia striker Saladin Said, but the referee did not see the action as play continued as if nothing happened.

To the Ethiopians, referee Neant Alioum was either incompetent or deliberately robbed them of an upset, but to many others, it was a perfect reason to introduce goal-line technology in African football.

“From my position it wasn’t a goal and I’m still very surprised the referee called it a goal because he wasn’t even on my line. He was metres away. I’m surprised also that the second linesman called for a goal,” Enyeama had said after the match.

“I’ll go back to see it on video but it still boils down to the goal-line technology thing. I don’t know what to say but it wasn’t a goal from my own perspective.

“The first one wasn’t a goal also. There’s a difference when the video is on the line of the goal. [Oboabona] pulled the ball out almost on the line.”

Former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, believed the balls crossed the lines on both occasions, saying the controversy would not have been if the technology was in use.

The former technical committee member of both FIFA and CAF said African teams should have the knowledge of the goal-line technology since it would be in use at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year.

“The goal-line technology has been on Sepp Blatter’s agenda for many years but various individuals kicked against it because they don’t understand the benefits,” Onigbinde told Saturday PUNCH.

“If it had been adopted the embarrassment in Addis Ababa wouldn’t have happened. I watched the game and I believe the ball crossed the lines on both occasions. We were lucky the referee didn’t see the first one cleared by the defender, but the second one couldn’t have been missed.”

Onigbinde said the fear that the technology would eliminate excitement from football should not be justification to remain without improvement in the sport.

“The English Premier League has introduced the technology but that has not reduced the excitement in the league. The problem with African football is that there aren’t enough quality technical personnel in position that understand how important it is to have the technology in place. My fear is that if it is eventually introduced it may not be maintained properly in some parts of the continent.”

But another former Nigeria coach, Christian Chukwu, was not comfortable with the idea of bringing the technology to African football.

“The technology looks fine in other sports like tennis and cricket but not in football. It kills the excitement in the game,” the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner said.

“I understand the benefits of goal-line technology but its use will slow the game and rob it of the argument that is part of the fun.

“The referee is human and human errors are part of the excitement in football. What fun will it have if the referee will have to wait for a video replay before recording a goal for a team?”

The former Nigeria captain was also convinced the Ethiopians scored twice in the Addis Ababa match, but insisted it was not the first in football such thing would happen.

“It happens regularly in football, but interestingly, that becomes the point of discussion after the game. Controversies make games memorable and that’s the fun everyone is looking for in football,” he said.

“If we must get it right, the assistant referees by the goal posts should be more vigilant in spotting balls that have crossed the lines.”

Chukwu got a backing from former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu, who also believed the Ethiopians should have been ahead in the first half through the cleared ball.

“I think both times the ball crossed the lines but that’s the fun in football. We should thank our stars that the referee didn’t see the first one but we were not that lucky in the second,” Dosu said.

“If we have goal-line technology, we’ll not be talking about this because it would have reduced the fun. Human errors are permissible; if everyone is perfect on the pitch, how do we enjoy the game.

“I don’t think we need the technology in our football and I hope its introduction at the World Cup will reduce the fun.”