Goal decision system: how things could have been different.

Matej Vydra scored late on against Fulham on Saturday to earn a point for West Brom in what many feel condemned Fulham to relegation. The goal was awarded following use of the goal decision system, one of the closest decisions made since the technology's incision this season.

Goal Decision System confirms crucial late equaliser
for West Brom (veooz.com)

It is a goal that were the wrong decision made, the outcome of the relegation zone could be completely different. Not only do they immediately effect the table they consequently effect; player confidence, form, managerial security, potential for different tactics to be used in other games in the season. What is effected by these decisions are exponential.

Lampard versus Germany (bbc.co.uk)

It was Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany in South Africa 2010 World Cup Last 16 match that sparked Sepp Blatter's technology lagged brain in to finally exploring the simple necessity of goal line technology. Lampard's goal would have levelled the match and England would have gone on to win their second World Cup - only a goal of such high profile catalysed  the development of goal line technology.

It was 5 years previous that Lampard was on the wrong end of another goal line decision. Luis Garcia's "ghost goal" knocked Chelsea out of Champions League at the Semi Final stage in 2005. Following this incident and Sky's animation (right) proving the goal not to have crossed the line the goal line technology debate has been at the forefront of football fans' discussion. 

Apart from these two high profile incidents the Premier League has witnessed many a potentially season changing goal/save. So how might Premier League seasons have turned out differently had Goal Line technology been implemented earlier? Here are a few other incidents that goal line would have easily cleared up.

Clint Hill vs Bolton (March 2012):

Clint Hill's disallowed goal v Bolton (dailymail.co.uk)

On 10th March 2012, QPR and Bolton were the televised kick off in a game being dubbed as must win for both, Hill looked to have scored from a header with the score at 0-0 but the goal wasn't given. Replays showed the ball had clearly crossed the line. Bolton went on to win 2-1 and leapfrog QPR in to 17th place leaving Rangers in the relegation places. As it turned out QPR stayed up and Bolton were relegated that season.

Pedro Mendes v Man United (January 2005):

This may be the most blatant goal never to be given. The game finished 0-0 just keeping United's title challenge possible. The incident gave weight to the Garcia ghost goal in the argument for technology to be introduced in football. It probably didn't have a big effect on the final standings that season with United well off the pace of Chelsea and Spurs finishing in a lacklustre top half position.

Frank Lampard v Spurs (April 2011):

Similar to how Andy Gray describes Liverpool's fortuitous goal in the Champions League, it could be said 'what goes around comes around' for Lampard. His 40-yard strike didn't cross the line but was given by the referee. It was given almost under the same terms as umpires in Cricket would give a batsman out LBW if he had played a poor shot, Gomes' blunder did not help his or Spurs' cause here. The game ended 2-1 to Chelsea, keeping alive their title hopes and all but ending a potential second successive season in the Champions League for Spurs. Chelsea didn't have enough to win the league and Spurs ended six points adrift of 4th place.

Hypothetical outcomes aside, football fans can now be thankful for the success of goal line technology but some will feel it should have arrived a lot sooner and they will still always wonder: what if?