Goal-line technology 'no-brainer' - Lampard

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AFP) –

England midfielder Frank Lampard reacts in shock after his effort on goal is missed by officials at the World Cup against Germany on June 27, 2010. Lampard believes the introduction of goal-line technology into football is a “no-brainer”.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, whose “goal” against Germany at the 2010 World Cup was missed by officials, believes the introduction of goal-line technology into football is a “no-brainer”.

Lampard came on as a substitute in Chelsea’s semi-final win over Monterrey at the Club World Cup Thursday — the first time the English Premier League side had ever played a match where a goal-line system was available to the referee.

“I have been in favour for a while now, particularly when it was clear it would be a quick and simple measure, and wouldn’t take much time from the game,” the 34-year-old said ahead of the match in Yokohama, Japan.

“Anything we can do to help referees, who have a very tough time trying to have their eye across everything… we have to try,” he added.

“If it doesn’t break the game up, and it could add the excitement factor as it has in cricket, then why not?”

It was the England international’s long-range effort, which cannoned off the crossbar and dropped over the line before bouncing back out, in South Africa two years ago that sparked FIFA into investigating the use of goal-line technology.

The world body are trialling two systems at the Club World Cup in Japan — camera-based Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, a system that uses magnetic fields and a ball with a special chip to determine its trajectory and position.

Both inform the referee within a second if a goal has been scored.

GoalRef was available to the referee during Chelsea’s semi-final win at the International Stadium but the match passed, like every other so far at the tournament, without the need for technology to judge a contentious incident.

FIFA will analyse the performances of both systems during the Japan showpiece early next year before choosing one for June’s Confederations Cup.

The body insists the technology will only ever be used to determine whether or not the ball has crossed the line, something Lampard agrees with.

“As long as it’s around specific goal chances, then I think I’ve always been for it, and my one (against Germany) has brought it more to the fore,” he told Chelsea TV.

“(If it helps) the middle ground where the human eye can argue about it, it’s a no-brainer.”