Open letter to Sepp Blatter from Goal.com Founder and President Gianluigi Longinotti-Buitoni

Dear Mr Blatter, Football has evolved to improve the experience of the game for the players, the coaches and, most crucially, the fans. In this age of technology, however, the referees are not getting support despite it being accessible, immediate and accurate. Many incidents during the course of a game cannot be judged 100 per cent correctly (nor instantly) each and every time - even when using technology - but one such exception to this rule is the ball crossing the goal line. Sanctioning the use of technology for one purpose does not have to mean the beginning of involving technology for all contentious match decisions, providing that it is employed only in clear-cut instances where there can be no doubt. It has been introduced in sports such as tennis, rugby, basketball, cricket and hockey without the spirit and rhythm of each being disjointed. In fact, the use of technology allows those officiating proceedings to do so in the knowledge that the really key decisions can be supported with scientific proof, when required. Goal.com has championed the appropriate use of technology in football, to bring the required tools to those people responsible for upholding the beauty of the game. We do not advocate the replacement of the human judgement in the game, merely fairness where it can be decided definitively in a short space of time, for the benefit of players, coaches and fans. Nobody loses. Crucially, failure to adapt will mean that some of the most beautiful and iconic moments in football are overshadowed, denied or perceived negatively - despite it being avoidable. Frank Lampard scored a beautiful and potentially game-changing goal for England against Germany, which was incorrectly ruled out. That could have been the beginning of one of the World Cup's greatest ever comebacks - or perhaps not - but surely even Germany fans would have preferred for the goal to stand, and for them to then still go on and win the match in the fantastic fashion that they did. Either way, it is about doing what's fair. Football is the undisputed sport of the world and FIFA deserve gratitude for the way they have overseen its growth. Now it is uniquely placed to deliver changes that will take football to the next level, something that we, as the world’s largest new media football community, believe is crucial. While technology may not be accessible to all players of the game around the world, nor are referees, assistants, coaches, proper boots, proper goals, proper pitches or even proper balls. Professional football must maintain a professional standard as best as circumstances will allow, especially when placed on the world stage where integrity of the game is paramount. Controversy may provide entertainment, but football is also a sport, and sport must be about fairness. Reluctance to use technology to determine absolutes has already proven to encourage more and more unfair play and deception within the game. As and when it can be eradicated, and the fairness of the game can be witnessed and emulated by those watching all around the world, the better it will be for the image of the game, the morale of the players and coaches, the security of the referees, and of course, the satisfaction and enjoyment of Goal.com's 30 million football fans around the world. They deserve the best. Let's make it happen. Yours sincerely, Gianluigi Longinotti-Buitoni Founder and President Goal.com

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