David Gold: Goal-line ruling needs to change

I have mixed feelings about Birmingham City’s situation at the moment. Although I am delighted with our position in the league, it is hugely disappointing to lose our past two games. Sometimes you need a wake-up call and I hope our loss to Coventry will provide that.

The determination of the players cannot be questioned. We bombarded Coventry in the second half on Monday but couldn’t quite get the ball over the line. This brings me on to our disallowed goal and my quest for a change of rule. The Laws of the Game published by Fifa for the 2008-09 season states, “A goal is scored when the whole ball passes over the goal line” which is then illustrated by a diagram. This rule needs to be addressed.

A goal should be given if the whole ball crosses an imaginary line between the front of the two goal posts. In other words, the whole of the ball has to cross the front of the goal line not the back of it. A linesman has a better chance of determining whether the whole ball has crossed the front of the goal line then the back of the goal line. At present he is required to view the incident through, at best, the side netting and, at worst, the side netting plus the keepers, towel, handbag and water bottle.

There has been constant debate over the use of goal line technology, and I have had my doubts about it, but I now feel the time is right for it. This rule change be implemented as soon as possible as it would benefit both the current situation and the new technology when it's introduced.

The Respect campaign launched by the FA has also been subject to media attention. The FA has taken a step in the right direction with this campaign and I applaud them for their initiative, but more has to be done to promote respect towards referees. It is so important to set a good example for the millions of children who watch the Premiership around the world, who imitate their idols. For me, the only way to ensure that respect is shown towards referees is to introduce retrospective yellow cards.

When a referee is surrounded by an intimidating group of players, it would be a farce to give seven or eight players a yellow card at the same time, but managers would soon ensure that their players showed respect if they were faced with a number of first-team players suspended as a result of retrospective yellow cards. The accumulation of bookings would be more of a deterrent and would encourage managers, who currently do very little to support the campaign, to rule with an iron fist. Current protocol, for example, has the captains from both teams being briefed by the referee before the game. That is a good start, but it has not solved the problem.                                                

Comments

[J Wilkes]

What a load of rubbish. Why change the law?

[Rich]

What a load of rubbish. Based on this, any time a keeper saves the ball on the line (penalties being a prime example) a goal would be given.