Why LaLiga hasn't implemented goal-line technology and how other ...

Representational image. Reuters

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez slammed LaLiga for the absence of goal-line technology in the highest division of Spanish football after their narrow defeat against Real Madrid in Sunday’s ‘El Clasico’.

Xavi, who is set to leave the Catalan giants at the end of the season, was furious with the referee not awarding a goal to Barcelona after a shot by Lamine Yamal had supposedly crossed the goal line before being parried away to safety by Madrid keeper Andriy Lunin.

The decisive moment took place when the two arch-rivals were locked at 1-1 in the 28th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid with the Spanish winger flicking the ball towards the goalpost off a corner.

Due to the absence of goal-line technology, the officials could not prove Barcelona’s claim and award them the goal, which former Barca midfielder Xavi slammed as a “disgrace”.

“It’s a disgrace. If we want to be the best league in the world we have to advance in this sense, you have to put in the technology," Xavi said after the match .

Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen agreed with his coach. “It’s shameful for football, I don’t have the words.

“There’s so much money in this world and there’s no money for what’s most important,” the German said after the defeat.

In light of Xavi and ter Stegen’s claims, we take a look at what the goal-line technology is all about, its implementation across major football leagues in Europe and around the world and why LaLiga doesn’t have it.

What is the goal-line technology?

Simply put, the Goal-Line Technology (GLT) is an electronic aid to determine whether a goal has been scored or not. In association football, a goal is scored when the ball goes past the line that is drawn between the two goalposts and directly underneath the crossbar, demarcating the start of the goal area. That counts even if the ball is airborne, and not necessarily on the ground. And it counts only when the ball has fully crossed the line.

It can sometimes get confusing for the referee to determine if a goal has been scored in close calls especially if the keeper pushes the ball out at the edge of the line. In such cases the goal-line technology helps determine the path of the ball and check whether the ball had fully crossed the line or not.

The objective of this technology, like Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is the aid the referees at the centre and not do their jobs on their behalf.

Which leagues have implemented the goal-line technology and when?

Since GLT is an expensive technology, its implementation is currently limited to a handful of leagues and international competitions, with the English Premier League the first to introduce it. We take a look at some of the major leagues that currently make use of the technology and the year in which in was introduced:

Premier League (English top division): 2013-14

Eredivisie (Dutch top division): 2013-14

Bundesliga (German top division): 2015-16

Serie A (Italian top division): 2015-16

Ligue 1 (French top-division): 2015-16

Why LaLiga doesn’t have goal-line tech?

As mentioned above, GLT is an expensive technology and LaLiga president Javier Tebas reportedly wasn’t prepared to shell out £2.6 million for the implementation in the Spanish top flight.

However, following Sunday’s events in the Clasico and Xavi and ter Stegen’s subsequent criticism, Tebas and the rest of the top LaLiga officials might be forced to rethink their stance on the technology.

Going back to the Madrid vs Barca showdown, Jude Bellingham would go on to score the winner in injury time to help Madrid win the thrilling encounter 3-2. Andreas Christensen had put the Catalans in the lead in the sixth minute, with Vinicius Junior helping the hosts equalise 12 minutes later by successfully converting a penalty.

Fermin Lopez restored Barca’s lead nine minutes after the hour mark, and Madrid would once again find a way to go level with Lucas Vazquez scoring four minutes later.

English midfielder Bellingham’s left-footed strike from a difficult angle in the 91st minute, however, may have sealed the title for Madrid, who now find themselves 11 points ahead of the second-placed Barcelona.

The two Spanish rivals have also had contrasting fortunes in the UEFA Champions League; while Madrid knocked defending champions Manchester City out with a thrilling away win, Barcelona were eliminated after a shock defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the home leg.