Èñòî÷íèê:http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifaqualityprogramme/goal-linetechnology/02/01/77/01/gltweben.pdf
This document serves both as a support for the implementation of goal-line technology (GLT) in football competitions and as a comprehensive guide to its development in recent years. It is therefore aimed mainly at competition organisers along with any other party affected by the implementation of goal-line technology. The recommendations are based on the test phases from 2010 to 2012, FIFA’s GLT Testing Manual 2012 and practical experience gained from the very first use of goal- line technology at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December 2012.
The implementation of goal-line technology in football is based on a four-step procedure for the licensing and certification of GLT systems and installations. In addition, the final check of the installed GLT system by the referee before each match completes the quality assurance programme for goal-line technology.
This process reflects the structure of this guide, the main focus of which is on steps three and four of the abovementioned licensing and certification process, in which the competition organiser is directly involved. The experience gained from the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2012 is also included, so that readers will obtain a detailed overview of the various challenges involved in fulfilling the requirements of a certified installed GLT system. The three main chapters of this document are therefore structured as follows:
The first chapter provides an overview of the development process of goal-line technology in recent years, the IFAB’s decision on 5 July 2012 and its subsequent integration into the Laws of the Game and an explanation of the FIFA Quality Programme for Goal-Line Technology (including steps one and two of the licensing and certification process), together with the obligatory referee check before each official match.
The objective of goal-line technology is not to replace the role of the officials, but rather to support them in their decision-making due to the speed of the game and their position on the field of play.
One of the challenges for referees is that the human eye can handle only approximately 16 images per second, which means the ball needs to be behind the line for at least 60 milliseconds. However, in some cases the ball is only behind the line for a few milliseconds before a player kicks it back or it rebounds back into the field of play, with the result that the human eye cannot see whether the ball has crossed the line. The ball can only be detected by the human eye at a speed of 12km/h or less, whereas nowadays players are able to shoot at a speed of over 120km/h (cf. “ The hardest recorded shot in football – ever”, 14 February 2007, The Guardian).
Another challenge is the vantage point. When viewed from certain angles, it is easy to misjudge the ball’s position. Cameras placed at different angles can mislead viewers when showing images “ proving” whether or not the ball has crossed the line, which is why only technology dedicated to evaluating such incidents can support the referee in the decision-making process and contribute to a fair game. The second focuses on steps three and four of the licensing and certification process based on experience from the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2012. Each section in this chapter contains general information, experience from the FIFA Club World Cup 2012 and a checklist. The latter serves as a guide to obtaining a certified installed GLT system and should therefore be completed by the competition organiser.
The final chapter provides answers to the most frequently asked questions on goal-line technology and its implementation process. If you have any further questions or individual requirements, please contact FIFA (quality@fifa.org).
At its Annual Business Meeting on 20 October 2010, the IFAB discussed the implications of measurement systems that are capable of automatically detecting the scoring of a goal during a football match (so-called goal-line technology or GLT). Consequently, the IFAB laid down a set of four basic requirements a GLT system has to fulfil:
• The goal-line technology applies solely to the goal line and only to determine whether a goal has been scored or not;
• The GLT system must be accurate;
• The indication of whether a goal has been scored must be immediate and automatically confirmed within one second; and
• The indication of whether a goal has been scored will be communicated only to the match officials (via the referee’s watch, by vibration and visual signal).
After preliminary tests at the Home of FIFA in Zurich in February 2011, FIFA and EMPA (the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, an independent Swiss test institute), in cooperation with the IFAB, initiated a comprehensive and professional testing process in order to evaluate potential GLT providers on the market and performed test phase 1 in November and December 2011.
Based on these independent test results from test phases 1 and 2, the IFAB decided on 5 July 2012 that the potential use of goal-line technology would be implemented in the Laws of the Game and that a licensing and certification procedure should control the quality of GLT systems in future.
The IFAB Special Meeting at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters on 5 July 2012 certainly lived up to its name, as the so-called “ guardians of the game” finally gave the go-ahead for goal- line technology to be written into the sport’s 149-year-old rule book, the Laws of the Game.
The objective of goal-line technology is not to replace the role of the officials, but rather to support them in their decision-making due to the speed of the game and their position on the field of play.
One of the challenges for referees is that the human eye can handle only approximately 16 images per second, which means the ball needs to be behind the line for at least 60 milliseconds. However, in some cases the ball is only behind the line for a few milliseconds before a player kicks it back or it rebounds back into the field of play, with the result that the human eye cannot see whether the ball has crossed the line. The ball can only be detected by the human eye at a speed of 12km/h or less, whereas nowadays players are able to shoot at a speed of over 120km/h (cf. “ The hardest recorded shot in football – ever”, 14 February 2007, The Guardian).
Another challenge is the vantage point. When viewed from certain angles, it is easy to misjudge the ball’s position. Cameras placed at different angles can mislead viewers when showing images “ proving” whether or not the ball has crossed the line, which is why only technology dedicated to evaluating such incidents can support the referee in the decision-making process and contribute to a fair game.
Creating a comprehensive project plan is crucial to successful implementation of GLT in a competition. All the parties involved in the organisation of a competition in which goal-line technology is to be used should therefore be included in an initial meeting before a detailed project plan can be developed by the relevant department. Based on the experience of the FIFA Club World Cup 2012, FIFA recommends arranging a kick-off meeting as a starting point to discuss the following points with the relevant people and making a decision only after all the information has been gathered.
As a first step, the competition organiser should discuss the needs and opinions of the competition members concerning goal-line technology. After performing a cost- benefit analysis for this project, it is recommended that the organiser discusses and answers basic questions on the implementation of GLT for the competition in question.
After deciding on the combination of these different options (many different permutations are possible), a legal basis must be established for the use of goal-line technology. As defined in the Laws of the Game, the use of GLT must be stipulated in the respective competition rules (Law 10 – The Method of Scoring).
The abovementioned points should be discussed in an initial meeting with all involved parties and result in a comprehensive project plan including a timetable, action points and responsibilities. The final version of this document will represent the guideline for the implementation of goal- line technology in the competition. It should be available for all involved parties and regularly updated by the relevant person/department.
In order to find the most suitable system(s), including from a financial perspective, it is highly recommended that a tender process is initiated (ideally at least three to six months before the start of a competition) in order to obtain the desired quality and service at the best price. To avoid a time-consuming process, it is important that the participants obtain as much detailed information as possible on the stadiums and the specific requirements of the competition organiser before drafting an appropriate bid. It is therefore helpful if the competition organiser is aware of the existing GLT systems and their different technologies on the market when drafting the tender. Based on this initial market analysis, the respective information can be added by the competition organiser to the tender document (e.g. type of official matchball, type of goal, stadium infrastructure, etc.).
Must a system be used for a whole season, or can it be utilised as soon as it is installed?
This is entirely up to the competition organiser and one of the first things to define when integrating goal-line technology into a competition.
The UEFA President advocates using additional assistant referees. Isn’t that easier, more “human” and cheaper?
According to EMPA, in critical situations when the ball is behind the goal line for a fraction of a second, a human eye is not able to clearly detect whether a goal has been scored or not. That is why the IFAB have called upon technical specialists and former elite referees to observe the tests and provide their expert opinions throughout this process.
Does the referee have to use the technology?
The IFAB has defined the referee’s position in the Laws of the Game by stating that he can use the GLT installation subject to the referee check that is carried out before the match.
However, the referee can disregard the information sent to his watch during a match if the watch or GLT system is not working properly. The ultimate decision as to whether the ball has crossed the goal line or not rests with the referee, who must rely solely on the GLT system installed.
How can a referee check the functionality of the GLT system?
The referee and his team are obliged to check the functionality of the technology before each match by applying the referee check. If the referee check does not
satisfy the referee (i.e. the technology fails one or more tests), the referee must reject the use of the GLT system for the relevant match. The decision must be made no later than 45 minutes before kick-off. In such cases, the organiser of the competition must be informed accordingly of the decision.
How does the referee receive the information?
If the ball has fully crossed the goal line, the GLT system automatically sends a signal to the match officials’ watches within a second. In addition, the watches vibrate when the ball crosses the goal line.
What happens if a system malfunctions during the game? What do officials do then?
The technical requirements of FIFA’s Quality Programme for GLT are very strict. The GLT should work properly during each official match. Should there be a failure of the relevant GLT system, the referee needs to report this to the appropriate authority.
How good are GLT systems licensed under FIFA’s Quality Programme for GLT?
All officially-licensed GLT systems are subjected to a strict regime of tests. The GLT system test comprises of an extensive test on the field, in training sessions and in the laboratory. Furthermore, after a prototype has passed the GLT system test, every installation is subject to another set of tests, the final installation test, which ensures that the installation concerned meets the same quality requirements for which it was tested under the GLT system test.
How soon can other companies be tested/potentially come onto the market?
As of today, all providers of goal-line technology systems can apply for the FIFA licence. One of the crucial application criteria is to pass the GLT system test that is carried out by a FIFA- accredited test institute (currently EMPA) and that takes around four months. It does not matter which technology the system is based on (e.g. camera-based as opposed to technology in the ball) as long as the test criteria of the GLT system test, which are defined in the GLT Testing Manual 2012, are passed. Detailed information about the application process and requirements can be found on www.FIFA.com/quality.
Technology develops quickly. Will companies have to submit to re-testing if their systems change?
As soon as any changes to the GLT system have been made, the entire system has to be re-tested. The GLT licensee must inform FIFA immediately about any changes to its licensed GLT system before installation. FIFA reserves the right to decide, at its sole discretion, whether the entire GLT system or certain elements of it should undergo the GLT system test once again.
How long is a licence/certification valid?
The FIFA licensing agreement with the GLT licensee is valid for two years and can be renewed after this period, whereas the GLT installation has to be re-tested every year. It is important to understand that the certification period of a GLT installation is separate from the licensing period of a GLT provider, i.e. the certification term of a GLT installation may be valid beyond the term of the license agreement between FIFA and the GLT licensee. In this regard, the GLT licensee or its customer can request a re-test of the GLT installation in a stadium.
How often do the systems need maintaining and by whom? The maintenance frequency of a GLT system in a football stadium depends on the technology. It is an obligation of the provider of goal-line technology systems to provide a detailed maintenance guide and appropriate maintenance equipment and to carry out a maintenance training session for its customer/stadium operator. Another option is for the entire maintenance process to be carried out by the GLT provider on a regular basis. This must be stipulated in the agreement between the GLT provider and its customer.
Is EMPA the only test institute that can test all installations if multiple leagues want to use GLT? Will more test institutes be trained?
EMPA have tested the systems since 2010, and FIFA recommends they should at least be involved in future tests, having gained great experience and insight in this field. But EMPA may not be able to test multiple
installations at the same time. FIFA expects other institutes to be trained (just as with balls and artificial turf), and
will recommend that they are certified to ISO 17025 in accordance with the final GLT installation test, to ensure that the testing quality is uniform. An initial training session for all interested test institutes is planned for the first half of 2013.
Is it permitted to show replays on TV or in the stadium?
This is up to the competition organiser. The question of whether and how replays are shown on TV or on an LED screen in a stadium should be one of the first discussion points when starting the implementation of goal-line technology in a competition. FIFA recommends involving referees in this discussion as well, due to the fact that the main objective of GLT is to support and protect the referee.