Ex-Fifa official: Miguel Almiron controversy at Newcastle could spark high-tech Premier League revamp
Keith Hackett has suggested the Premier League could revamp the Hawk-Eye technology in order to be “100% sure” about controversies like Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock’s early strike against West Ham last week (4 February).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee cited a similar high-profile incident involving Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma at the World Cup last year.
As per footage from the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube account (4 February), Almiron’s square ball for Joe Willock had looked to give Newcastle an early lead against West Ham.
However, replays appeared to show the ball had crossed the line before the Paraguay international crossed it in – and the goal was chalked off following intervention from VAR official Neil Swarbrick.
Newcastle went on to score an early goal regardless, with Callum Wilson netting just moments later – but were eventually pegged back by Lucas Paqueta’s equaliser for struggling West Ham.
Hawk-Eye technology, which was introduced to the Premier League in 2013, can only provide goal-line decisions for incidents which happen inside the two goalposts.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “It rarely happens, this kind of incident.
“To be 100% sure, you’d have to extend the current capabilities of the Hawk-Eye technology.
“We did see a similar incident in the World Cup. That goal was allowed, but I thought the ball was out.
“I definitely think the ball was out in this Newcastle game, but it poses an interesting question about where the next level might be for the goal-line technology.”
In other news, pundit claims Newcastle United are “nailed on” to sign Conor Gallagher after source’s update.