EURO 2016, Champions League to make use of goal-line technology

After many months of speculation an historic meeting held in Nyon, Switzerland. last Thursday (21 January) saw the UEFA Executive Committee approve the use of goal-line technology for the final tournament of UEFA EURO 2016 in France, as well as for the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League from the play-offs onwards.

The system will work alongside additional assistant referees, who will continue to monitor all activity in and around the penalty area. The goal-line technology system supplier will be announced in due course.

The UEFA Executive Committee has also decided to look into the feasibility of implement goal-line technology in the UEFA Europa League, as from the group stage onwards, starting in the 2017/18 season.

Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina commented on the official UEFA website, “UEFA is constantly monitoring ways in which it can improve the matches taking place in its competitions. I can tell you there has been a long internal consultation process regarding goal-line technology (GLT). For years, we have been analysing hundreds of matches, gathering data on a variety of situations during games.

“As you know, at our request, in 2012 the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved the introduction of additional assistant referees (AARs) to increase the officials’ visibility and control of the penalty area. This system has worked very well and provided clear benefits. At the same time, we have followed the evolution of GLT, which is complementary with the AAR’s job. As a matter of fact, we have already seen that in Italy’s Serie A, where AARs and GLT are used in perfect harmony,” said Collina.

In other news, the committee has given its unanimous backing to the candidature of Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential elections, which are due to take place in Zurich on 26 February.