5 Controversies Where Goal Line Technology Would Have Helped

FIFA has given the green light to goal line technology for the 2014 World Cup and Confederations Cup this year after years of debate on the subject.

The technology was trialled in the Club World Cup in December and will now be employed on the world's biggest stage in Brazil next year.

We all have memories of "ghost goals" across global competitions, and here we look at controversial incidents which would have been cleared up quickly with goal line technology.

Frank Lampard, England vs. Germany, 2010

Frank Lampard's "goal" was the catalyst for change after FIFA president Sepp Blatter apologised for the mistake by match officials.

England were in the ascendancy after Matthew Upson made it 2-1 following a torrid opening period in the last-16 tie against Germany in Bloemfontein which saw them losing by two goals.

Then, in the 38th minute, Lampard floated a ball over the head of Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer which struck the underside of the crossbar and came down past the keeper.

But match referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistant Mauricio Espinosa failed to see the ball had crossed the line.

It is difficult to argue with a deserved final result of 4-1 to Germany after England's poor second-half display, but it could have been different for Fabio Capello's side with the impetus of an equalizer.

Sulley Muntari, AC Milan vs Juventus, 2012

AC Milan were already leading 1-0 through Antonio Nocerino’s deflected strike in the 14th minute a year ago when Sulley Muntari inadvertently wrote his name into Serie A history.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a tremendous save to parry one header, but the fall bounced into the path of the Ghanaian who headed past the Italy international and began his celebrations.

However, match official Paolo Tagliavento waved play on after Buffon clawed the ball back from behind his goal line.

To make matters worse for Milan, Alessandro Matri equalised for Juventus to leave the San Siro side one point ahead in the Serie A table.

Juventus won the Scudetto last season, four points ahead of AC Milan.

Thomas Helmer, Bayern Munich vs. FC Nurnberg, 1994

Bayern Munich were chasing the Bundesliga title in 1994, two points ahead of Kaiserslautern, when FC Nurnberg arrived at the Olympic Stadium in April.

But when a corner from the right was flicked into the feet of Bayern defender Thomas Helmer, the game entered history.

Helmer appeared to lose the ball under his feet and could not control it, before appearing to kick it wide of Nurnberg goalkeeper Andreas Kopke's post.

Helmer fell behind the goal line and was picked to his feet by the relieved keeper, but both were surprised when match official Hans Joachim Osmers awarded the goal on the advice of linesman Jorg Jablonski. Helmer celebrated with his Bayern teammates while the Nurnberg players were perplexed.

The game finished 2-1 to Bayern but the Nurnberg protests resulted in a replay, which the visitors lost 5-0. If the game had finished 1-1, Bayern would not have won the Bundesliga that season and Nurnberg would not have been relegated.

Rasmus Lindgren, FC Groningen vs RKC Waalwijk, 2013

The most recent goal line controversy in world football occurred 10 days ago when FC Groningen played host to RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie in Holland.

Groningen midfielder Rasmus Lindgren lined up a free-kick from 30 yards and fired beyond the Waalwijk goalkeeper and against the crossbar. The ball crashed down beyond the line but the match official waved play on.

Fortunately, Groningen went to win the game 2-1 and the error did not affect the result, but it was a timely reminder of the good goal line technology could do.

Geoff Hurst, England vs. West Germany, 1966

Quite simply, the daddy of all goal line controversies.

Did Geoff Hurst's goal for England against West Germany at Wembley in 1966 actually cross the line? We are still no closer to finding out almost 47 years on.

But it was the view of linesman Tofik Bakhramov which was the crucial factor as England took a 3-2 lead in extra-time.

Hurst would add another goal before the end of the game to complete his hat-trick, but it his second which remains one of the most discussed strikes in world football.