Platini Against New Technology

Uefa president Michel Platini claims the introduction of technology would be bad for football and says the additional referees being used behind the goal-line in European competitions would have seen Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986.England were denied a clear goal in their World Cup defeat to Germany last year, when Frank Lampard’s drive hit the crossbar and crossed the line before bouncing out. That, along with a series of other controversial incidents, brought renewed calls for goal-line technology to be introduced, but Platini will strongly oppose any moves to bring it in.

“In my opinion technology isn’t good for football,” he said. “Nobody (at Uefa) wants to bring it into our sport — and nor does (Fifa president Sepp) Blatter.”

Platini says the two additional referees recently introduced behind the goal-line in the Champions League and Europa League are sufficient, claiming they would have spotted Maradona’s handled effort 25 years ago.

“The two additional referees in each area are a great help,” he said. “They would have seen Maradona’s hand. Football was managed by just one man for 100 years and it was impossible to appreciate everything that happened on the pitch, so sometimes he would make decisions without having seen what went on.

“Now if a referee doesn’t see something it’s because he’s not very good.”

Platini also claims the additional referees have limited diving in the penalty area, and believes no further technology is necessary.

“In the last edition of the Champions League there were three of four decisions that the referees corrected on seeing that the ball had not entered the area,” he said. “There is no more simulation in the area because there is a referee who sees it; we are happy and we don’t need more technology.”