Goal-Line Technology: After Everton Incident, Why Isn't It Coming This Season?

Goal-line technology has reclaimed its place of unfortunate prominence in the news. This time, a linesman's blown call victimized Everton, but this time, the outcry has been curiously muted.

Victor Anichebe should have been awarded a goal when his header crossed the line during the second half of Monday's English Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle at Everton's Goodison Park.

Newcastle keeper Steve Harper and his defender had touches before and after the ball bounced off the crossbar, but replays showed that the ball had crossed the line.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw, which meant Everton lost two deserved points. After the match, Toffees manager David Moyes sounded almost like the whole thing was no big deal.

"What can I do about it? We all know the tools will come in eventually,” he said (via the Daily Telegraph).

His counterpart, Newcastle's Alan Pardew, echoed the quasi-fatalistic tone. “I’ve been saying for a long time we need technology," he said. "It cost Everton a goal tonight.”

From the sound of things, both Moyes and Pardew favor goal-line technology. What's more, it's supposed to be coming. This past summer, The Guardian reported that one of two systems, Hawk-Eye or GoalRef, would be used in the English Premier League starting with the 2013-14 season.

But if the technology exists and has widespread support, why isn't it being used in the Premiership already?

Following the controversial result at Everton on Monday night, Sky News reported Tuesday that goal-line technology would not be rushed into use this season. The reason: licensing.

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There had been suggestions that the Premier League might be able to introduce the successfully-trialled Hawk-Eye or GoalRef technology halfway through this season.

But the licensing process is not yet complete, and it’s likely it would take until the 2013-14 campaign to have the technology installed and tested at all 20 Premier League grounds.

Discussions are continuing between the Premier League and the two current potential providers of the technology.

"FIFA have approved but not licensed GoalRef or Hawk-Eye as yet," a Premier League spokesman told Sky News.

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Goal-line technology is set for use in FIFA's Club World Cup, scheduled for Dec. 6-16 in Japan. If successful, it's feasible—though FIFA has not said as much—that goal-line technology could be introduced around the world thereafter.

The need to test the technology explains the current delay, but it doesn't explain why, in the year 2012, readily accessible technology is not being used to help officials make quick and accurate calls in a highly important segment of football matches.

The reasons for that involve the leaders of the world game's largest governing bodies. FIFA president Sepp Blatter opposed technology until recently, when he cited Frank Lampard's disallowed "goal" in the 2010 World Cup as a personal turning point (via BBC News).

Controversy erupted again at Euro 2012, when Ukraine were also denied a clear goal against England, but UEFA president Michel Platini remains opposed to goal-line technology. He has instead proposed the use of additional referees (via The Guardian).

"I'm still very much against it and, to be honest, I'm not going to change my mind at the age of 57," Platini said.

Age has nothing to do with it. Blatter, who is 76, changed his mind, and goal-line technology continues to gain supporters.

For now, though, after yet another costly missed call, its widespread introduction remains a matter for the future.

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