With debates for the introduction of the goal line technology getting heated, British Prime Minister David Cameron, on Tuesday joked that, he may drop his support for goal line technology.
His remark is coming after the English team benefited from referee’s error in the on-going Euro 2012 group stage match against Ukraine.
England defender, John Terry cleared a ball after it had clearly crossed the goal line but despite the introduction of a fifth official, the error went unnoticed. The goal would have brought the game to 1-1 and probably could have changed the course of the game.
England beat Ukraine 1-0 in Tuesday’s match, qualifying for the quarterfinal knockout stage in the process.
Asked about the game at a news conference at the G20 summit in Mexico, Cameron was happy to offer his warm congratulations, but a little artful when asked if the mistake should lead to the introduction of sensors to confirm goals.
He referred back to the 2006 World Cup match in which England was the team on the wrong end of a bad refereeing decision.
“Goal-line technology?” he pondered.
“I remember thinking it was a thoroughly good idea when Frank Lampard was disappointed in that previous England-Germany game. I’ll have to reflect a little bit further but don’t expect an immediate U-turn,” he joked.
England’s win sets up a quarter final clash with Group C runner up, Italy on June 24.
Blatter succumbs
Meanwhile, Fifa’s president, Sepp Blatter, has confirmed that goal-line technology is ‘no longer an alternative but a necessity’.
He took to the social networking site, Twitter, to voice his opinion on the issue. “After last night’s match #GLT [Goal-line technology] is no longer an alternative but a necessity” he posted.
However, the extra officials appear to have made little difference with many still calling for goal-line technology to be deployed.