Sports/Olympics / Off the Pitch

FIFA experts go high tech to pin down World Cup scorers
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-09 09:10

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).