FIFA experts will be poring over disputed goals the day after they are scored
in the World Cup to make a final ruling on who should be credited as scorer.
FIFA's Technical Study Group, a 13-strong group whose latest recruit is
Cameroon legend Roger Milla, said Thursday it would be using computer technology
to rule who scores goals and to give a final ruling.
The group said:
-- If a goal-bound shot accidentally bounces off a player into the opponent's
goal, the goal will be awarded to the player who struck the ball towards the
target in the first place.
-- If a goal-bound shot is intentionally redirected into the opponent's net,
the goal will be credited to the player whose action produced the change of
direction.
-- If a shot is going wide and is then deflected or redirected into the
opponent's goal by a teammate or an opponent, this player will of course be
credited with the goal.
At least two experts will receive video immediately after matches and be able
to analyze it using computer technology.
Holger Osieck, head of FIFAs technical development department and Andy
Roxburgh, Technical Director of UEFA, presented the new directives in Berlin
Thursday. "Previous tournaments have been dotted with decisions about what
constitutes an own goal which appeared to lack clear guidelines. On the basis of
fairness, positive approach and player protection, the benefit of doubt should
always be given to the attacker," said Osieck, who was assistant coach to Franz
Beckenbauer when Germany won the World Cup in 1990.
Only 24 own goals have been scored in 644 matches in the tournaments from
1930 to 2002.
For the 2006 competition, the TSG will be made up of the following 13
experts: Andy Roxburgh (Scotland), Roy Hodgson (England), Jozef Venglos
(Slovakia), Gyoergy Mezey (Hungary), Francisco Maturana (Colombia), Teofilo
Cubillas (Peru), Jim Selby (Australia), Rodrigo Kenton (Costa Rica), Alvin
Corneal (Trinidad & Tobago), Kim Chon Lim (Malaysia), Ka-Ming Kwok (Hong
Kong), Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia) and Roger Milla (Cameroon).