'Goal-line technology is a must'

The day is not too far when FIFA, the world governing body for football, would be forced to introduce goal-line technology to end controversies over disputed goals, said former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke here on Thursday.   

“There are additional referees on the lines now. But I think in future this (introduction of goalline technology) will happen. Too much is at stake,” said the 40-year-old Trinidadian.

The debate over the need to introduce the technology started again following the controversy during the England versus Ukraine game at the league stage of the Euro 2012.

FIFA will introduce it in the near future, felt Yorke speaking after launching the Mumbai leg of the Airtel Rising Stars initiative.

The Mumbai leg is to be held on August 4 and 5 as part of Airtel’s pan-India initiative covering 16 cities to choose 12 hand-picked under-16 footballers to attend a week-long training camp with the glamorous and highly successful Premier League club Manchester United at Old Trafford in England.

Yorke, a close friend of Trinidadian cricket great Brian Lara and a fan of the game, said that while racism in football was much less now than when he had started his career in the late 1980s, it has not disappeared totally.

“I have lived in England for 24 years. Football has moved a great way forward in rooting out racism.”