UEFA 'positive' on goal-line technology for Euros

Goal-line technology is likely to be used during Euro 2016 as well as in next season's Champions League, with UEFA saying a final decision will be taken in January.

Currently, the technology is used in the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A, the German Bundesliga and Ligue 1 in France.

However, FIFA brought it in for last year's World Cup in Brazil after successful trials at the Club World Cup and the Confederations Cup.

UEFA's currently suspended president Michel Platini has raised the matter in the past and general secretary Gianni Infantino said further discussions on the technology by the Executive Committee at a meeting in Paris on Friday were "positive".

"It was discussed quite in depth as well today and actually the Executive Committee decided that a decision on the use of goal-line technology would be taken in January at the next meeting," Infantino said at a press conference ahead of Saturday's Euro 2016 draw.

"But there is a positive attitude towards that."
If introduced, it will be used in conjunction with the system of five officials. But while bringing in goal-line technology for the first 24-team European Championship in France should not pose a problem, doing so for the Champions League and Europa League represents a logistical challenge.

"Of course everything has to be analysed around different companies -- one is used in France and a different one is used in England, Germany and Italy," added Infantino.

"If it is for the Euro this season it will be for the cup competitions next season, which means the Champions League and Europa League.

"That means 80 venues across Europe. Today it exists in four countries so maybe only 20 teams out of those 80 would have it in place, and so there is a whole series of logistical and operational challenges that we have to analyse."

The decision is set to come when the UEFA ExCo gathers at the organisation's base in Nyon, Switzerland on January 25 and 26.
Source: AFP