Spain has thus far resisted the drive towards goal-line technology. Herr Blatter was once in the same camp. The deposed FIFA boss had long opposed it on the grounds of romanticism. Top level football should resemble park football in so far as it was practicable.
Frank Lampard's misfortune against Germany in 2010 seemed to convert him to the cause of goal-line technology. Surely the events of today will re-ignite the debate about Spain's resistance to technology.
Barcelona failed to win away at Real Betis today, having to settle for a 1-1 draw. They needed a late Luis Saurez goal to even steal a point. They find themselves one point behind Real Madrid and their rivals from the capital have two games in hand.
They should have had their equaliser twelve minutes earlier. Shortly after Alegria had given Betis the lead, Vidal whipped in a cross, Betis defender Tosca got his foot on the ball but deflected it towards goal.
Mandi hooked the ball away before it could ripple the net. But he most certainly didn't do so before he crossed the line. It was a full foot over the line.
VIDEO: A clear penalty denied in favour of Barcelona, and a clear goal denied to Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/NoD6sg6TXP
— Barça News Forum (@BarcaNewsForum) January 29, 2017
Many are cursing Spain's attitude to goal-line technology although one could argue that the naked eye of your average well-positioned linesman would be able to make out that this one crossed the line.
So they don't have goal line technology in Spain..??? Barca must be raging ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/vXDeUt5HvY
— Andy G (@andyg2683) January 29, 2017
2017 and there is still no goal line technology in Spain. What a joke of a decision this is. pic.twitter.com/IDmIumEpR6
— TikiTakaConnor (@TikiTakaConnor) January 29, 2017
