Johnny Cantor: It's time for technology to be taken to the next level in football

We all have busy lives nowadays. There's always something to do or plan. Sometimes though, it's important to catch up.
Over the line? Goal-line technology will be used in the Championship next season. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)Over the line? Goal-line technology will be used in the Championship next season. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)
Over the line? Goal-line technology will be used in the Championship next season. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)

Catch up with friends, catch up with family and, dare I say it, catch up on work. As a journalist, you always have to keep across what’s happening elsewhere and with technology that’s getting easier and easier.

For me, I like to know what’s happened across the other games, the other leagues and the other sports, especially after a long away trip. On review of the action on Tuesday night, there appeared to be a perfectly good Fulham goal against Leeds disallowed, after the officials couldn’t determine whether the ball had crossed the line after coming down off the crossbar.

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From next season that just won’t happen in the Championship. Just as in the Premier League, goal-line technology will be introduced to the second tier of English football from August.

Of course it makes sense. There is a clear cost for clubs to adapt posts and goals but with such a huge prize on offer, it would be catastrophic for a team to lose out on promotion due to an inaccurate decision.

The Hawk-Eye system, which has been so successfully used in tennis, will be of huge benefit in my view. However, I truly believe that technology should now be taken to the next level.

There will always be contentious decisions in open play in football but with so many camera angles at the top of the game, it seems ridiculous not to use them.

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The Albion themselves were subject to a decision at Nottingham Forest last weekend that could easily have been rectified in a few seconds. If the Forest striker had touched the ball en route to goal and was in an offside position, the goal would not have stood. The result could have been very different.

They say that it’s a game of small margins but in a very small amount of time an official can review the action. I accept rugby has become more stop-start since the arrival of TMO but Super Rugby has changed its rules surrounding in-game reviews.

From this season onwards, any referee who wants a decision reviewed will first have to state their on-field decision based on their real time view. That means there is a decision made, just like in cricket, and then it can be amended if necessary.

I know there is an argument about tampering with the beautiful game but I wonder with the advances being made, whether it is time to take the first step.

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Ten years ago, who thought wearable technology would even exist? Well, I’m sure there was some guy in a Marvel t-shirt in a dark room in Silicon Valley who knew there would be.

The time has come to utilise the geek, adapt and improve and then we will avoid mistakes. It might take the heat out of the post-match debates between fans and pundits but, with £100m in the balance, it would be nice to know a team is a worthy winner.

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