An imminent new chapter for the Bundesliga annals was rubber-stamped on 4 December 2014, as its clubs voted overwhelmingly for the introduction of goal-line technology. "It's an important step forward for German football,” said League Association president Reinhard Rauball after 15 of the 18 current Bundesliga clubs came out in favour of the move at their member meeting in Frankfurt.
As of next season, the Fifa-licensed Hawk-Eye system will be employed to determine whether the ball has fully and properly crossed the goal-line, bringing an instant technological resolution to many a tough split-second call for referees. In contrast to an initial vote earlier in the year, the two-thirds majority required to see the measure through was this time achieved with something to spare, while those still opposed were accepting of the outcome as well.
"We have to respect it,” said Eintracht Frankfurt chairman Heribert Bruchhagen. FC Schalke 04 sporting director Horst Heldt commented, "We were against it for a few reasons but the majority of clubs are in favour, so now we're looking forward to the introduction of goal-line technology as of next season.” Hawk-Eye, a multi-angle trajectory-tracking system, will only be deployed in the top flight for the time being, on an initial three-year contract. It has been a feature of top-end tennis tournaments since 2006 and was first rolled out in the English Premier League last season.
The German FA (DFB) has opted to follow suit and the system will be used in future from the quarterfinal stage onwards in the DFB Cup. "I've been stressing for years that referees are in favour of goal-line technology. And there was a very positive resonance to its deployment at the World Cup finals in Brazil,” said Bundesliga whistler Felix Brych, himself part of one of the 25 refereeing teams in action at the summer finals.
At the previous club members' meeting in March, the requisite two-thirds majority vote was missed by some way. "We're very happy about the clear decision, because this time around the DFL recommended the introduction of the technology. Its rejection in March even worked out positively for us in the end, as we got an excellent price to good conditions,” commented Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) chief operating officer Andreas Rettig.
Bayern Munich were among the most prominent advocates of the new system and indeed it was at the specific behest of the record champions that the club cub bosses got around the table to vote on it for a second time. "I'm really pleased that our proposal was approved by such a clear majority. The DFL management oversaw the whole process in a very professional manner,” said FC Bayern president Karl Hopfner. Honourary president Franz Beckenbauer was equally satisfied, noting that, "We live in a technological century and still can't determine whether the ball's crossed the line or not.”
Having pushed strongly for the innovation ahead of the meeting, the DFL now sees itself up to speed for the coming season. As chief executive Christian Seifert put it, other leagues and national associations had been getting a little puzzled as to "why Germany, of all countries, was dragging its heels on the introduction of the new technology.” They need be puzzled no longer.
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