Three cheap solutions to the goal-line conundrum

This week the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy takes on the biggest talking point in football today… goal-line technology.

July 2012

Who knew that deciding whether a ball has completely crossed a white line could be so difficult? But as recent history demonstrates, making that decision is no easy feat. So come forward goal-line technology, an idea that is now officially backed by the powers that be at FIFA.

Things are now moving so fast, that many are expecting the Premier League to introduce technology by the start of the 2013/2014 season.

But what does this mean for Football League clubs? The approved methods of determining whether a goal has been scored come from two companies – Hawkeye and GoalRef. Hawkeye uses triangulation from six cameras to determine the ball’s position, while GoalRef uses a microchips and magnetic fields for the same outcome.

Both sound expensive. However, it is about time this problem was sorted out – so here at the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to suggest some cheaper alternatives to solve the goal-line conundrum. Although, we may need to bypass health and safety…

1. Dig a 6ft pit behind the goal-line. Pretty simple this one. Let’s just let gravity tell us whether a ball has bounced over the line – if the ball has disappeared, it’s a goal.

2. Install spikes a ball width behind the goal-line. The thinking behind this one is that if the whole of the ball has crossed the line, it will encounter series of sharp spikes that will make it go pop. Not the safest, but nevertheless an option.

3. Just make the goal-line thinner. Instead of a goal-line a couple of inches thick, why not introduce a wafer thin goal line. Surely this will be much easier for the human eye to determine whether the ball has completely crossed it.

So there you have it. We’ve sent these suggestions to Mr Blatter and Mr Platini. Still haven’t heard back though… they must be busy.

Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.