Michel Platini, man. Michel Platini. From Reuters:
“If we are going to use this goal-line technology in the Champions League and Europe League, then we would have to set it up in every single stadium where matches are played. If we wanted to use goal-line technology, we would have to install it in 280 stadiums and then remove it again for domestic matches. It would cost around 54 million euros ($69.26 million) over five years for this technology, so it’s quite expensive for the sort of mistake which happens once every 40 years. Honestly, I prefer to put more money into youth football and infrastructure than spend it on technology when there’s a goal in a blue moon that hasn’t been seen by a referee.”
Now look, I have no idea about the finances of this, although it does seem absurd that the plan would be to install and then remove the technology. (Why not just leave it in place and split the costs?) But dude, let’s not pretend that your five-man referee system works, okay? Don’t insult our intelligence. If you don’t want to install goal-line tech because of the cost or because you hate progress or because whatever, just say that: “I’m Platini, and I’m in charge.” It’s your right. You da boss.
Don’t tell us “practically no mistakes have been made and the referees see practically everything that happens on the pitch.” You know what sees everything? Goal-line tech cameras.
