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In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina commented on Croatia’s disallowed goal against Portugal, as well as technological innovations at the World Cup, changes in refereeing and the role of VAR.
e also praised Slavko Vinčić, who was appointed to referee the final between Spain and Argentina, saying that the decision had been difficult and that he understood the emotions that come with such an honour.
Collina praises new eight-second rule for goalkeepers
Collina also gave a positive assessment of the new rule allowing goalkeepers eight seconds to put the ball back into play, with a corner awarded if they exceed the time limit.
According to Collina, the small number of violations showed that the change had helped make the game faster and more fluid.
Why FIFA continues to invest in technology
Speaking about technology, Collina said it had been absurd that tens of thousands of spectators inside a stadium could immediately watch a replay while the referee responsible for making the decision could not.
He added that FIFA invests millions in technology while hoping it will not be needed, because that would mean the officials had already made the correct decision on the field.
Spider-cam controversy in Norway vs England
Collina also addressed the debate over whether the ball had struck a spider-cam cable during the match between Norway and England.
He explained that the technological data showed no contact. According to Collina, the sensor graph, the rotation of the ball and the stability of the camera all confirmed that the ball had not hit the cable.
Collina on Croatias disallowed goal against Portugal
Collina also addressed Croatia’s disallowed goal against Portugal, explaining how the connected-ball sensor was used to determine whether the Croatian attacker had touched the ball.
“Here too, the graph was clear. There is a spike when the ball touches the head of the Croatian attacker, then a flat line and another spike when it touches the back of the Portuguese defender. Since the system does not detect contact with hair, the spike was caused by contact with the head,” Collina said, explaining why Croatia’s disallowed goal against Portugal was ruled out.
Technology and emotion in football
Collina also rejected claims that technology destroys emotion in football.
In his view, it is more important for celebrations and emotions to be based on a correct decision than on a controversial incident that could be debated for years.
