So the FA are thinking about the need for goal-line technology after the goal that denied Fulham an equaliser against Middlesbrough on Saturday, which sort of resonated profoundly back to the blunders created by Roy Carroll in Manchester United’s ludicrous win over Tottenham back in 2005. Now apart from the above incidents, there are implications that every goalkeeper should take heed of especially if FIFA and other soccer governing bodies decide to introduce goal-line technology into the game.

Incidents such as the Fulham v Middlesbrough game show the need for game officials and organizers to be a little more stringent about the way a competitive match pans out. In this instance, I believe that Middlesbrough did not deserve the game, and even though Mark Schwarzer could not do much in this situation, Fulham were clearly denied the right to an equalizer. But, what the officials say…goes. But does it have to be that way? Could goal line technology really be a way of creating “fair play”?

Why goal-line technology will be good

• Teams who have scored a clear goal, can now be awarded points that they rightly deserve.
• Goalkeepers who blunder can be rightly caught out for their errors.
• Goal line technology will allow for officials to be more diligent and more confident in the way they rule the outcome of competitive matches.
• Goalkeepers will need to be more effective and alert, thus creating a better quality of play.

Potential problems

• Technology can go wrong. Not even the best technology in the world can be 100% accurate?
• Could slow down the pace of the game, as officials ponder over the results of the technology during game time.
• From a goalkeeping psychology perspective, it could further change the role of the competitive goalkeeper, as they must utilize extreme care and caution so as not to be caught out by any blunders that are signalled by the technology.

There are many other scenarios, but I feel that there will be some heated and ongoing discussion regarding goal line technology and it’s role in how the competitive football match pans out for quite some time. For goalkeepers, it could mean added and ongoing pressure to not create blunders in already highly competitive and nerve racking conditions during professional play. Overall, I feel that goal line technology will be a strong asset for the game, but it depends on how effectively it is utilized.

What do you all think about goal line technology, and how it will effect the role of the competitive goalkeeper?

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