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Scientific eyes may drop the ball

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer watches as the ball crosses the line

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer watches as the ball crosses the line during the 2010 World Cup match against England - the goal was disallowed (Source: Reuters)


In a commentary appearing in the journal Nature, science journalist Nic Fleming says it is misleading to promise fans that the technology would eliminate errors like the denial of an apparently legitimate goal by England midfielder Frank Lampard in the 2010 World Cup.



Similar systems are already used in tennis and cricket.

"The introduction of goal-line technology to football is likely to perpetrate a mass deception on television viewers," writes self-proclaimed Sheffield United fan Nic Fleming.





According to Fleming, the use of Hawk-Eye in leg-before-wicket decisions includes a 'zone of uncertainty' where the system admits that it cannot be certain whether or not the ball would have hit the stumps.

"It defers to the judgement of the human umpire and this is acknowledged to television viewers with an 'on-field call' message," he says.

Fleming says this should be included in other sports such as tennis and soccer.


"Based on this we could have much better discussions about the role of science in public debates around climate change, nuclear power and genetic modification, for example."



