EPL chief backs goal-line technology

English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has backed widespread support for goal-line technology to help referees.

Speaking in relation to Juan Mata’s controversial goal for Chelsea in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham, Scudamore repeated his belief that technology to help officials must be introduced.

“I hope to see some goal-line technology or a wider use of technology to help officials because it’s football’s toughest job,” Scudamore said.

“They do a great job but there’s things we must be able to help them with and we should be doing that.”

It is 20 years since the Premier League took over running England’s top division and Scudamore believes the key challenge now is to maintain the competition’s high standards.

“The challenges remain the same – keeping the talent here in this country,” Scudamore said.

“My plea to the clubs is carry on doing what you’ve done – I never have to apologise for them investing their money into playing talent because that’s the bit from which everything else flows.

“There will be ever more increasing challenges about doing that.

“Other countries will develop their own leagues and investors.

“Keeping the grounds full is a very important challenge in these tough economic times.”

Scudamore also praised Championship side Reading for winning promotion after a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

“All of a sudden Reading came through in the last three or four months – the run they’ve been on has been brilliant and they’ve done it with a couple of matches to spare, which is fantastic for them,” Scudamore said.