Christopher Chang: Goal-line blunder could prove costly for QPR

Clint Hill's 20th-minute header clearly crossed the goal line but was disallowed. Photo / YouTube

Assistant referee Bob Pollock could have just cost QPR close to £90m. More accurately, it could be the stubbornness of football's governing body FIFA that hits Rangers so hard in the pocket.

Because if they end up getting relegated, they might point to the decisive moment on Sunday when Clint Hill's 20th-minute header crossed the goal-line.. but was judged not to be a goal. Referee Martin Atkinson didn't see it and linesman Bob Pollock refused to intervene.

Bolton's 2-1 win at the Reebok Stadium allowed them to leapfrog over QPR and out of the relegation zone. The match was deadlocked when the controversial incident occurred.

The goal-line technology debate will not go away, not as long as there is so much money at stake in these games. Its pros and cons have been thrashed to death in multiple sports; the chief concern being a fear of time wasting and interrupting the flow of a match. But those arguments are defunct when there is technology available that will alert referees within seconds as to whether the whole ball has fully crossed the line.

Danish system GoalRef and British-based Hawk-Eye have both been tested extensively and could be implemented easily at top football stadiums.

For massive, money spinning leagues and tournaments like the Premiership, World Cup, and Champions League, the difference between success and failure can mean millions of dollars won or lost.

To get some idea of the financial value of staying in the Premier League, consider Deloitte LLP's estimate: promotion from the Championship is worth about £90m in television rights and other revenue.

That includes selling more merchandise, attendance at games, shirt sponsorships. Business experts last year asserted that Norwich's promotion to the Premiership could also mean millions of pounds for the local economy.

Finishing bottom of the Premier League still guarantees a club around £40m. There is around £750,000 extra for each place higher up the ladder.

After QPR's loss, the FA hastily called for the introduction of goal-line technology: "The FA has been a leading proponent of goal-line technology for many years. We will continue to press for its introduction once further independent testing is complete later this year, so that anyone wishing to introduce the technology is able to do so at the earliest possible opportunity," it stated.

It's not difficult to cite other examples of 'goals' that were never given. Frank Lampard's strike against Germany at the 2010 World Cup came at a crucial moment in the game. England trailed 2-1 and Lampard's shot clearly beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but the referee failed to see the ball bounce over the line.

Tottenham were denied a rare victory over Manchester United in 2005 when Pedro Mendes' half-way line shot was dropped by Roy Carroll over the line, before the Northern Irishman clawed it out of the goal - completely unseen by the match officials.

And perhaps the most infuriating 'ghost goal' belongs to Freddie Sears'. His volley against Bristol City in 2009 bounced back after after hitting the back frame of the goal... and a goal-kick was awarded.

While the debate rages, at least there will be some form of action on 2 July this year. The International Football Association Board will meet in Kiev and should decide on whether to adopt goal-line technology into football.

Just don't expect the fuming Mark Hughes to take solace in that though. He called the refereeing decision on the weekend "laughable". If it proves to be a decisive moment in the season, there will be no laughing all the way to the bank for Queens Park Rangers come May.

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