There has been a long running debate whether technology should be used beyond its limitations in sports or not, however, in many sports, human interference has been reduced significantly via help of a sophisticated technology, but there are some sports where technology is still in its initial phase and soccer is one of them. Until recently, only referees used to be the only godfather of the game and they need to rely on their naked eyes under extreme atmosphere to spot if a goal or penalty has been done, but off late, several technologies have emerged to help these bare eyes with the use of sophisticated gadgets spread accords the field. FIFA has already announced to use a goal line technology system and EPL has also committed to use the system, but there are still many parts in the world where a large section of soccer fraternity is against of reducing human control over the game and Germany is one of them. Reportedly, this European State refused to own any technology for its domestic league hence there is no help in place for referees apart from camera placed hundreds of yards away the nets. In a recent incident, a goal was awarded to Bayer Leverkusen last Friday and later it was found that Stefan Kiessling’s header actually hit the side netting before entering through a hole.
As expected, Hoffenheim’s managing director Alexander Rosen shouted his protest against the goal and called this a scandal. Felix Brych, referee of the match who is also the referee for upcoming Champions League clash between Milan and Barcelona, said he awarded the goal, since no one protested – this is an insane excuse? What he said is, “I had a slight doubt but the reaction from the players was clear – nobody said to me that the ball did not go in. I checked with Kiessling. But no-one, not even him, said that it wasn’t a goal. The ball was in the net and for everyone on the pitch it was a legitimate goal.”
This is also noteworthy that GoalRef, the technology which is going to be used in FIFA world cup next year, is a German based outfit and in its own State, no one is concerned about the help it can provide to human eyes. Kiessling apologized for his undeserved goal via a Facebook post where he said, “After seeing the replays on television, I can clearly see that it was not a legitimate goal. I’m sorry for all sports fans. Naturally, it’s not nice to win like that. Fairness is important in sport, for us in the club and for me personally.”