Goal-line technology new at the 2014 World Cup

in sports on 2014-06-11 07:03 (#3NH)

The 2014 World Cup kicks off in Brazil on Thursday. For the first time ever, goal-line technology has been installed across all twelve stadiums that will host the different world cup games. Three months before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, FIFA head, Sepp Blatter, dismissed the role for goal line technology in international competition, only to change his mind after several errors were made by the human referees . It will be interesting to see how this works out now that it has been introduced. Apparently, seven cameras are trained on each goal to determine when the ball crosses the line, each system had to correctly determine 2400 test cases to be considered ready to go, and the algorithm has the required capacity to notify the head referee within one second after a given incident via wireless communication to their wrist watch. Cool technology really.

And, whatever you think about FIFA and the World Cup, check out this recent commentary from Jon Oliver to deepen your appreciation and have a laugh/cry while you're at it.

6 comments

England (Score: 2, Funny)

by lhsi@pipedot.org on 2014-06-11 13:52 (#21X)

I think I remember when the position changed on this. A load of people in England had been complaining due to not having the technology because the English team lost out a couple of times because of it. Then in one game they benefit from the lack of goal line technology and the official position is reversed to now want goal line technology. Some were joking it was just because England benefited for a change that the stance changed.

Re: England (Score: 2, Informative)

by rocks@pipedot.org on 2014-06-11 14:46 (#21Y)

Actually, in the 2010 World Cup, Frank Lampard of England "scored" a goal that would have tied up their elimination game with Germany 2-2, but it was not acknowledged and the score remained 2-1 (Germany went on to win 4-1 in the second half, but the tying goal, had it been awarded, could have been a significant turning point). Lampard's goal is cited frequently as one of the key examples which turned the tide to accept a need for goal-line technology (although I think FIFA first tried to use extra referees on the end lines, but this approach failed as well). I was not aware of the view that the general stance change only after England benefited from an error. Do you recall the example you have in mind?

Re: England (Score: 1)

by lhsi@pipedot.org on 2014-06-12 09:29 (#228)

Do you recall the example you have in mind?

No, I don't follow football myself. I just remember lots of people being snarky about it.

And I thought (Score: 1)

by rocks@pipedot.org on 2014-06-11 22:20 (#221)

a story about the World Cup might get Pipedot commenters out of the wood work. Soccer is a religion after all...

Weather must be too good these days, everybody is outside playing :)

Re: And I thought (Score: 1)

by quadrox@pipedot.org on 2014-06-12 10:23 (#229)

The weather IS good, but I spend it at the beach and not playing football/soccer. Although I wouldn't mind that either.

Re: And I thought (Score: 1)

by rocks@pipedot.org on 2014-06-12 11:50 (#22E)

... at the beach... that sounds pretty awesome, I must say...