SFA chief Smith dismayed by Fifa 'no' vote on goal-line aids

FIFA has shut the door on goal-line technology, prompting Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith, a vocal supporter of the proposal, to brand development of two different goal-line systems as a waste of time and money.

Smith said: "There was no problem with the technology. For me the sad thing is that decision could have been made four years ago. It's not based on the fact that technology's not good enough, just an ideological idea that technology does not belong in football."

The FA and SFA had both voted in favour of technology but were defeated by six votes to two – Fifa's four votes plus those of the Welsh and Irish FAs – at the International FA Board (IFAB) meeting in Zurich on Saturday.

Fifa voted against continuing any further experiments with goal-line technology and effectively ended any chance of video replays coming into the game.

Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke last night admitted he hopes the decision to shut the door on goal-line technology does not come back to haunt him in the World Cup final this summer.

The decision was swiftly followed by a legitimate goal being ruled out during the FA Cup quarter-final between Portsmouth and Birmingham.

Valcke said the game should be prepared to accept referees' mistakes.

"Questions will always come, we just hope they will not come in the final of the World Cup.

"Technology should not enter into the game, It was a clear, clear statement made by the majority of the IFAB.

"The main part of the game should be humans – players and referees.

"Whatever are the mistakes – and yes there are mistakes – people will review the match and discuss what happened but there was a clear statement that technology should not enter in the game.

"If we start with goal-line technology then any part of the game and pitch will be a potential space where you could put in place technology to see if the ball was in or out, whether it was a penalty and then you end up with video replays. The door is closed."

Former top referee Graham Poll also said he was "disappointed but not surprised" by the decision.

Asked the reason for football's reticence on Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme yesterday, Poll said: "It's probably because of the level of arrogance.

"They feel that we have the best game, it's our game, the number one game and it's the same as experimenting with things like sin bins – 'Oh no, that's a rugby idea we wouldn't do that.'

"It's like having a look at a different method of offsides – 'Oh we won't do that, hockey have done that, we have to be different, we're football.' It's hugely disappointing.

Asked if he believed the game's rulers were burying their heads in the sand he replied: "Yes I do. They think this is Pandora's box. Once they bring in any form of technology you won't be able to stop it.

"It will be action replays and really spoiling the game that we all love and I can understand that concern, but the time surely has come that we need to help match officials in goals. That's what football's all about."

The IFAB will decide in May whether to pursue the system of having an extra two officials behind each goal-line.