Blatter Declares Goal-Line Technology “a necessity” after Ukraine Blunder

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said today goal-line technology was “a necessity” after Ukraine became the latest victims of its absence from the game.

The European Championship co-hosts were denied an equaliser in last night’s decisive 1-0 Group D defeat to England when officials failed to spot Marco Devic’s shot had crossed the line.

Blatter, who hopes to convince the game’s rule-makers – the International Football Association Board – to give technology the green light, posted on Twitter: “After last night’s match £GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity.”

Blatter became a convert to goal-line technology after Frank Lampard was denied a legitimate goal in England’s 2010 World Cup defeat to Germany.

That failed to convince UEFA president Michel Platini, the favourite to succeed Blatter, who remained wedded to his belief additional assistant referees behind each goal was the best way forward.

FIFA has been trialling two different systems to help officials know whether a ball has crossed the line.

England’s friendly against Belgium last month was one of the test matches for Hawk-Eye, the system used in tennis and cricket, although it was not at the disposal of match officials.

A similar system called GoalRef has also been trialled in two Danish league matches.