Football is one of the most famous games in the world, played in many countries. In India, it is also highly popular, with several football clubs and an annual league called the Indian Super League (ISL). Despite being so famous, only 32 teams qualify for the Football World Cup, held every four years. This is because qualifying for the World Cup is extremely challenging.
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Football is played for 90 minutes and follows many rules. A few years ago, a new rule was introduced to use ‘goal-line technology’ in the game.
Basic Rules of Football
- Each football team has 11 players, and the game is played between two teams. According to the rules, the team that scores the most goals wins the game. However, scoring a goal is not an easy task, as both teams’ goalkeepers put in great effort to stop the goals.
- When a striker (the player responsible for scoring) kicks the ball to make a goal, the opposing goalkeeper tries to stop the ball using their hands or feet.
- According to the rules, if the football crosses the goal line, it is counted as a goal. However, if the goalkeeper stops the ball before it crosses the line, it is not considered a goal.
- Whether the ball has crossed the goal line is decided by the referee. But sometimes, referees make mistakes because it can be difficult to judge instantly. To eliminate this confusion, the rule of using goal-line technology was introduced in football.
What is Goal-Line Technology?
Goal-line technology involves several advanced systems designed to determine whether the football, kicked by a striker during the game, has successfully crossed the goal line or not.
Why is Goal-Line Technology Needed?
Many times in football, the goalkeeper stops the ball near the goal line. However, it becomes difficult for the referee to decide whether the ball was stopped before or after crossing the goal line. To resolve this issue and ensure accurate decisions, goal-line technology was introduced in the game.
How Does Goal-Line Technology Work?
- Goal-line technology informs the referee within just one second whether the football has crossed the goal line or not.
- Referees and match officials wear a special watch as part of this system. As soon as the ball crosses the goal line, a signal is sent to the referee’s watch, enabling them to make a decision.
- This technology works so quickly that the signal reaches the referee’s watch within a second of the ball reaching the goal line.
Technologies Used in Goal-Line Technology
- When goal-line technology was being considered for football, nine different systems were tested.
- FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved two systems: Hawk-Eye and GoalRef. These systems are now used in football, though their use is not mandatory for every match.
Hawk-Eye
- Hawk-Eye technology uses around 14 high-speed cameras installed above the field. Developed in 1999, this system tracks the ball using video footage and calculates its exact position in relation to the goal line through triangulation.
- Triangulation is a geometric technique used to measure the ball’s distance and position. The cameras are arranged in a triangular formation to ensure precise calculations.
- With the help of specialized software, Hawk-Eye not only tracks the ball but also predicts its path. This is similar to how cricket broadcasts display ball trajectories using graphics.
- If the ball fully crosses the goal line, Hawk-Eye sends an encrypted signal to the referee’s watch or earpiece within half a second. The referee can then make their decision.
- While recently introduced in football, Hawk-Eye has been used in other sports like cricket and tennis for years.
GoalRef
- GoalRef technology involves embedding passive electronic circuits inside the football. Additionally, low-frequency magnetic fields with three copper coils are installed around the goalmouth.
- When the ball crosses the goal line, the antennas around the goal detect changes in the magnetic field and send this data to a computer.
- The computer then determines whether the ball has crossed the line. If it has, the referee receives a signal on their watch within half a second.
How Effective is Goal-Line Technology?
- Currently, goal-line technology is being widely used in various football leagues, and it has proven to be highly effective. Most football clubs have also adopted this technology. In 2016, it was introduced for the first time in the UEFA Europa League Final to ensure no wrong decisions were made. Additionally, it has been used in matches of the UEFA Champions League and the European Championship.
- According to FIFA’s website, licenses have been granted to 144 stadiums worldwide for implementing goal-line technology, with all these stadiums utilizing the Hawk-Eye system.
How Effective is Goal-Line Technology?
- Currently, goal-line technology is being widely used in various football leagues, and it has proven to be highly effective. Most football clubs have also adopted this technology. In 2016, it was introduced for the first time in the UEFA Europa League Final to ensure no wrong decisions were made. Additionally, it has been used in matches of the UEFA Champions League and the European Championship.
- According to FIFA’s website, licenses have been granted to 144 stadiums worldwide for implementing goal-line technology, with all these stadiums utilizing the Hawk-Eye system.
An Expensive Technology
- Systems like GoalControl, Hawk-Eye, and GoalRef under goal-line technology are very costly to implement, which is why they are primarily used at the top levels of football.
- The cost of installing technologies like GoalControl or Hawk-Eye in a single stadium is approximately $260,000. Due to its high cost, FIFA has not made it mandatory to use this technology in every match.
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