5 events in the history of football that could have benefited from the use of technology

#4 Diego Maradona vs England 1986 World Cup

The goal that is talked about 30 years on

The game that largely defined Diego Maradona’s career as an eccentric yet brilliant footballer remains one of the most controversial ones in the game’s history. England and Argentina met in the quarter-finals of the 1986 edition of the World Cup and with Diego Maradona in their ranks, the Argentine fans were excited about their prospects.

(Video Courtesy: ify212 YouTube Channel)

Argentine asserted their dominance in the game in the first half and were largely denied by the English goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who made numerous saves to keep Argentina at bay. However, their maverick leader in attack had had enough and decided to take matters into his own hands, literally. After the ball had bounced towards Shilton, the onrushing Maradona, a whole 8 inches shorter than Shilton, decided to punch the ball into the goal.

To the surprise of English players as well as several Argentine players, the goal was allowed to stand and Argentina went on to win the game 2-1 after Maradona doubled his side’s lead with the “goal of the century” in the 55^th minute.

The game remains a case study that strengthens the usage of technology in the game of football as video referral could have prevented Maradona from scoring the goal and the history of the game could have been different as Argentina went on to lift the title in the tournament.