Michel Platini: Goal-line technology too costly for Champions League

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Michel Platini

Uefa president Michel Platini says goal-line technology is too expensive for use in the Champions League.

Platini, 57, said he would rather the money was spent on youth football.

"I prefer to put more money into youth football and infrastructure than spend it on technology when there's a goal in a blue moon that hasn't been seen by a referee," he said.

Platini added that he was happy with the five-man referee system, used in the Champions League and Europa League.

Fifa is set to use goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Platini said the technology would need to be installed in 280 stadiums for European football, which the former France international sees as unnecessary.

"It would cost around 54 million euros (£46m) over five years for this technology, so it's quite expensive for the sort of mistake which happens once every 40 years," he said.

"In the Champions League, I'm very happy with the results (of a five-man team). Practically no mistakes have been made and the referees see practically everything that happens on the pitch."

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785 comments

  • Comment posted by dogeared, at 17:59 28 Mar 2013

    Can't some of that petty cash from the Qatar bid be allocated to cover it?

  • Comment posted by Spurtle, at 17:58 28 Mar 2013

    This guy is even making Blatter look like the smart one of the two at the moment.

  • Comment posted by Chelsea1, at 17:55 28 Mar 2013

    Pure 'Football Politics'. With all the money pouring into the sport, we are told Goal Technology is too expensive!!! What a joke.

  • Comment posted by thinkingne, at 17:58 28 Mar 2013

    Unfortunately that money has been earmarked for internal Xmas bonuses

  • Comment posted by James, at 18:08 28 Mar 2013

    I can think of at least 5 incidents in the last 3 years so how he came up with 1 in 40. Him and Blatter should be put down. Both are damaging the game.

  • Comment posted by U13917472, at 18:01 28 Mar 2013

    Technology, including Hawk Eye, is affordable in the relatively poor game of Cricket, yet MP says it's too expensive for football when kids yet to make the 1st team earn £m's. As for saying there's only been one mistake every 40 yrs or so, Platini must be in a constant haze, which explains a lot. Even a dinosaur like Blatter has woken up. At least let those clubs that want it, pay for it & use it

  • Comment posted by U10782072, at 18:00 28 Mar 2013

    I wonder what his reaction would be if France where to have a goal disallowed in a major tournament and is found to be otherwise by video replay.
    The amount of money involved in World Cup, Champions League and top European Leagues these days renders his comments redundant.

  • Comment posted by Waterboy, at 18:05 28 Mar 2013

    Platini doesn't want to introduce goal line technology so officials can still be paid off without defining evidence that the sport is corrupt. Which is clearly the case.

  • Comment posted by thelastofthefew, at 17:58 28 Mar 2013

    Platini Not a clue.......cock ups by ref cost clubs millions........goal and tv replays should be used & a 5/6 offical in a tv box.....this is not 1971

  • Comment posted by Tyto alba, at 18:00 28 Mar 2013

    Let me guess: the technology is not being made in France.

  • Comment posted by U15419156, at 18:07 28 Mar 2013

    Too expensive? Surely not?!

    All you need is a camera trained on each goal line with a live feed to the referee's assistant responsible for that part of the pitch (and perhaps a 4th or 5th official) who will be wearing Google Glass(es).

    You could even do away with the 5th official and the money saved there would probably cover the small costs of this technology.

    UEFA and FIFA are a joke

  • Comment posted by redand2000, at 18:18 28 Mar 2013

    European football can't afford to have leadership like this for much longer and be taken seriously.

  • Comment posted by westy84, at 18:18 28 Mar 2013

    I just can't wait for a contentious "goal" decision is against his beloved Barcelona or France then his opinion might change.

  • Comment posted by Parish87, at 18:05 28 Mar 2013

    Too expensive? They have cameras at every ground near the line anyway that are able to show us every time one of the inept assistants fails to spot the ball 4 yards over the line. Use them.

  • Comment posted by U14598788, at 17:59 28 Mar 2013

    Regarding the 5 officials i have yet to see the pair on the goallines make any considerable input to the game,another Platini folly,is it a contest between Platini and Blatter as to who can come up with the biggest load of tosh?

  • Comment posted by Sui Generis, at 18:16 28 Mar 2013

    FIFA and UEFA mock the intelligence and impotence of supporters to contest their doctrines and practices with absolute impunity.

  • Comment posted by argylr92, at 18:18 28 Mar 2013

    Considering football has far more money than many other sports that use technology like cricket, rugby, tennis and hockey then I have to say this is more of a "dog ate my homework" excuse for wanting to splash it on some silly stadiums in Qatar instead

  • Comment posted by willsthechef, at 17:54 28 Mar 2013

    With all the money that is in football I would say this is cheap!!! One player can cost that much, each club should be responsible for their own. One of the criteria for being in the champions league!!!

  • Comment posted by U15647183, at 18:57 28 Mar 2013

    Grass roots football should be funded through a tax on players wages!
    Not through depriving the game from the necessary technology

  • Comment posted by Ed, at 18:20 28 Mar 2013

    Idiot. That is all.

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