FIFA has been informed of issues with GoalControl — the German company that provided goal-like technology for the 2014 World Cup — as the French governing body Ligue de Football Professionnel on Thursday suspended use of it until further notice due to malfunctions.
FIFA said in a statement last month that it has yet to confirm whether GoalControl will be used in Russia for this year’s World Cup, according to the Associated Press. For now, it’s the French who are unhappy with the technology and let GoalControl know that its contract could be terminated.
According to the LFP, it met with GoalControl last month to express its dissatisfaction that occurred in several Ligue 1 matches, including this incident where technology indicated to the official that a Troyes shot on goal had crossed the line when it had not. According to the league, LED lighting had an effect on GoalControl cameras, resulting in the referee’s watch to wrongly vibrate.
The LFP subsequently announced that after two new technical issues in quarterfinal matches at the Coupe de la Ligue, it was suspending use of the goal-like technology.
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Just three days earlier, GoalControl chairman Simon Rolfes had said in a statement regarding the use of the technology used in the quarterfinals, “I think the use of technology in Sports is important and will help to make the sports more fair. The referee on the pitch will never be able to see every game situation 100% correct as his view can be blocked by players on the pitch. This new contract shows that our development is counting in now.”
That contract is now in jeopardy, even with Ligue 1 having used GoalControl since 2015.