Personally, I have noted and commended the video technology reform, but also requested that the process should be accelerated - so that it can be translated to concrete results in terms of decision delivery.
As usual, I urge the governing body to commit a greater portion of its resources to the short-term improvement of the beautiful game. This is without prejudice to the medium and long term plans.
As well meaning gooners, we welcome the ongoing FIFA reforms and we believe that the federation's leadership means well. We note in particular the focus on the strengthening of match deciders and transparency in the football sector. But we need to worry about issues of policy stability and the implications for football in particular and sport in general.
The football system is fragile and sensitive; therefore any reform of the sector should be carefully managed not to undermine confidence in the system. Transition from one policy regime to another should be systematic and methodical to minimise shocks. The regulatory body claims to have set up a soft landing framework as well as, made adequate consultations with stakeholders to minimise dislocations in the system. Sincerely speaking, I can't buy that. But we have to believe in them, despite their numerous shortcomings in the past.
The following reaction to the introduction of the goal-line technology is culled from Arsenal.com: "You want it so you have a better chance to make the right decisions," said the Arsenal manager.
"You know it could be a help for the referees. The more help they get, the more decisions they get right. If out of 100 decisions they get 95 right instead of 85, you have to use technology." To reduce the number of mistakes as much as possible, I’m happy you can use it. And I would like to use it for more than goal line [incidents], but it’s a first step."
Wenger and his Arsenal squad will be back on home soil this weekend when the 2011 Emirates Cup gets underway but goal line technology will not be used when PSG, Boca Juniors and New York Red Bulls are in town: "You need permission to use it and we didn’t get permission," explained Wenger."
I think FIFA do not want to start to have a different set of rules here and there and I can understand that. But the good news is they are open to it and it looks like in the next World Cup we will have it."
