Goal Line Decisions: Why the Entire Ball Must Cross the Line to Be Counted as a Goal

• The Tottenham vs Luton Town EPL match featured a controversial goal-line technology call
• Luton's Alfie Doughty made a spectacular clearance on the goal line, which sparked debate
• IFAB has clearly explained the instances and criteria by which a goal should be awarded

In Saturday's Premier League match between Tottenham and Luton Town, fans observed a crucial moment where the entire ball's crossing of the goal line became the centre of attention.

Luton's Alfie Doughty made a spectacular clearance on the goal line, leaving fans in awe while at the same time sparking a debate about whether it was a goal or not.

Despite initial confusion, goal-line technology intervened to clarify the situation.

As the score stood tied at 1-1 in the second half, a shot deflected towards the goal, seemingly destined to find the back of the net. However, Doughty's remarkable clearance denied Tottenham's Brennan Johnson, leading to speculation among fans and pundits.

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Former Tottenham manager, Tim Sherwood, was convinced that the ball had crossed the line, while others remained skeptical.

"That looks over the line to me, but his watch hasn't gone off. Is it [goalline technology] broken? That's surely over the line," he remarked, as reported by TalkSport.

Upon closer inspection through aerial replays, it was shown that while the shot came incredibly close to being a goal, the entire ball had not completely crossed the line. Despite being a matter of millimetres away from a goal, the technology decisively showed that the ball did not fulfil the criteria to count as a goal.

The incident underscores the importance of goal-line technology in modern football. It eliminates the ambiguity that often surrounded referee decisions in the past, where goals hinged on subjective interpretations. With the implementation of this technology, matches are now decided with greater precision, ensuring fairness and accuracy in determining the outcome.

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When is a goal awarded?

Per the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules, a goal is only awarded when the entire ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts, and under the crossbar. This definitive criterion leaves no room for interpretation and ensures that goals are scored fairly and unequivocally.

Premier League begins plans to introduce new technology

Sports Brief reported that the EPL took steps to change how the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) works.

The semi-automated technology has already been used in major competitions, including the World Cup

VAR has been dogged by controversy since its introduction in 2019, with more than 10 cases being recorded this season alone.