Capello, Lampard call for goal-line technology

Fabio Capello and Frank Lampard demanded Sunday FIFA introduce goal-line technology after the England midfielder had a perfectly good goal ruled out in his team’s 4-1 World Cup mauling by Germany.

Germany were leading 2-1 in their last 16 clash just before half-time when a Lampard shot bounced off the underside of the German crossbar and landed a yard over the goal-line but it was missed by both Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistant.

“I am in favour of goal-line technology, especially after tonight,” said Chelsea midfielder Lampard.

“The ball crossed the line, it was over, it was so obvious. If we had got back to 2-2 at that moment, it could have been different. It’s a huge disappointment.”

“We had a meeting pre-World Cup with someone telling us a million different rules, changes that hardly affect the game and the big one that affects this game today hasn’t been brought in so it’s a no-brainer.”

Capello said he was amazed that football is still to fall into line with many other sports who have embraced technology.

“It’s incredible that in a time of technology, the referees aren’t capable of deciding if there has been a goal or not,” said the Italian. “The match could have been different after this goal.”

England captain Steven Gerrard also called on FIFA to look at goal-line technology.

“When you go 2-0 down and then you get a goal back it gives you a lot of confidence and belief and then to see that ball bounce behind the line and see the linesman 20 metres behind play is very disappointing,” he said.

“FIFA will have to look at that because I looked across at the linesman and he was by the edge of the area so how can he see if that’s over the line or not.”

But Gerrard said he was not making excuses.

“For me to just stand here and say that one moment is the reason why we got beat today would be a lie.

“It’s one of them things. I’m no expert. I don’t know whether goal-line technology will change things but technology would have made it two-all today and given us big belief and confidence that we could beat the Germans.”

Capello admitted Germany’s pace and movement had given his side major problems.

“The most important thing was the goal that we scored to make it 2-2,” Capello insisted.

“If it had been a goal the rest of the game would probably have been different.

“It meant Germany were able to play on the counter attack in the second half. They did it very well but it would have been different.”

Capello said he saw it was a good goal even from the bench.

But goalkeeper David James said Lampard’s strike was such a blatant goal that goal-line technology was not required.

“You don’t need technology when the ball’s a yard over,” he said, adding he could tell Lampard had scored from everybody’s reaction.

“Unfortunately the incident has definitely changed the outcome of the game because (it would have been) 2-2 and we were pressing after that as well.

“It is a different game by virtue of the scoreline, it’s a different game psychologically because they would have been under a lot of pressure and we’d have been in the ascendancy.”

“Technology, it would be nice but in these circumstances I don’t think it was something that was needed,” he added.