Goal-line technology "moved back into the spotlight in Germany after a controversial decision in the German Cup final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, less than two months after its introduction was rejected by the league," according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS.
Dortmund was confident it had scored against champions Bayern when Mats Hummels headed onto goal in the 64th minute and defender Dante cleared the ball near the line with the score at 0-0. TV replays "showed both Dante's leg and the ball, even further behind in goal, were clearly over the line." German Football League (DFL) President Reinhard Rauball, who is also the president of Borussia Dortmund, said, "If Dortmund CEO Hans Joachim Watzke or a representative of other clubs resuggests goal-line technology, it would be something that I would support." Yet it was only as recently as March 24 that the 36 clubs from the first and second division "rejected the introduction of the technology with half of the top-flight clubs voting in favour and only three of 18 second division teams backing the idea."
A two-thirds majority "was necessary with many clubs against it because of the technology's cost." Rauball had said in March that the issue was "now off the table." DFL Managing Dir Andreas Rettig on Monday also hinted the issue "could now come back as long as it was the clubs who demanded a new vote on the technology." He said, "If it is the wish of the clubs then there is nothing in the way of a new vote. The DFL is well prepared" (REUTERS, 5/19). HANDELSBLATT's Anis Micijevic reported a long-time Dortmund fan "has started an online petition that calls for an independent review by the German Football Federation (DFB)." The petition, which launched on Sunday evening, "already has 16,000 signatures" (HANDELSBLATT, 5/19).
