UEFA's approves new technology as Infantino vows FIFA win

UEFA is to allow goal-line technology starting from Euro 2016. (Photo: AFP/Adrian Dennis)

NYON, Switzerland: UEFA on Friday (Jan 22) approved the use of goal-line technology (GLT) for its competitions, as the body's acting chief Gianni Infantino vowed to win FIFA's upcoming presidential vote.

The greenlight for GLT, which has been expected, was given the final nod at UEFA's executive committee meeting, with the technology to be introduced at the France-hosted Euro 2016 championship.

Meanwhile, with the campaign heating up to replace Sepp Blatter as the head of world football's scandal-tainted governing body, UEFA's executive committee unanimously backed Infantino's candidacy for FIFA's Feb 26 vote.

"We are certain he is the right man to take FIFA forward now," an executive committee statement said.

Infantino, UEFA's secretary general who entered the race following the suspension of European football's fallen president Michel Platini, voiced confidence of an election win.

Asked how many votes he expected to get from the 209 FIFA member-associations who will pick the body's next leader, Infantino said: "at least 105, which is the number needed to become the president of FIFA."

UEFA's national associations have also "overwhelmingly" backed Infantino's candidacy, but each nation will disclose its individual endorsement "in due course," the executive committee statement said.

GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY

Infantino said the decision on goal-line technology was ultimately made because the game did not benefit from uncertainty over goals.

"We looked at it seriously," he said. GLT "will dispel any doubt about whether a goal has been scored."

UEFA's top body approved use of the technology for this summer's continental championship and then for the 2016/17 Champion's League, with GLT expected to ultimately extend to all UEFA competitions.

The technology is already used in the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A, the German Bundesliga and Ligue 1 in France. FIFA also brought it in for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after a series of successful trials.

"The system will work alongside additional assistant referees who will continue to monitor all activity in and around the penalty area," UEFA said.

- No vote to replace Platini -

UEFA also said that it will not hold a vote to replace Platini until the Frenchman's appeals against his ban have been exhausted.

Platini was initially suspended from football by FIFA in October over a 2 million Swiss franc (US$2 million/€1.8 million) payment that Blatter authorised for him in 2011. In December, FIFA judges banned him for eight years.

Platini, who had been the favourite to win FIFA's presidency, has denied wrongdoing and vowed to appeal his ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

UEFA said "there will be no presidential election scheduled" until sports appeals bodies have ruled on Platini's case. The French football legend withdrew from the FIFA presidency race on Jan 7.

THE 'FOOTBALL' CANDIDATE

Infantino is facing tough competition from four rivals in the contest to become the most powerful man in football.

But, he said, those clamouring for an end to the scandals and allegations that have tarnished the game should have confidence in his leadership, dismissing the notion that he was a regional candidate.

"I am not the UEFA candidate. I am not the European candidate ...I am the football candidate," he said.

Thirty-nine people have been charged by the United States with corruption in football going back decades, while Swiss prosecutors have also opened investigations targeting Blatter and the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, won by Russia and Qatar respectively.

Top corporate sponsors of the World Cup like Visa and Coca-Cola have demanded sweeping change in global football's management.

"They know me," Infantino said when asked if he had made contact with these corporations during his campaign. "They know how I work. They know who I am."

FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan has already sounded an alarm over impropriety in the campaign.

Hussein said a development deal agreed between the Asian and African confederations looked like a scheme to secure Africa's backing for Asian football chief and FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain.

Asked about fears of vote buying, Infantino said "he had no concerns at all with regards to this election."

Meanwhile, Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko confirmed his backing for Infantino to win the FIFA vote.

"Undoubtedly we have a candidate of Europe - Infantino. He is our candidate. Europe is acting as a united front. Therefore we support him as the candidate of Europe," Mutko told R-SPort news agency by phone.

"Infantino has been in UEFA for 15 years, he is the secretary general, a respected person."