Soccer refereeing has long relied on just three on-field officials—a referee and two assistants, one on each side line. For decades, this structure, though peppered with flaws, appeared to keep the peace.
In 2010, and in response to technology confirming a slew of missed calls at or near the goal line, the UEFA Executive Committee approved a proposal to add two assistant referees to either goal line, effectively giving the sport two goal judges authorized to rule handballs, penalties and other issues of play involving the scoring of a goal (via Goal.com).
Since the two-year trial was adopted following UEFA's proposal to FIFA, five on-field officials (one referee and four assistants) have become a welcome sight on European football pitches, with the fourth and fifth goal officials added to the 2012 UEFA Euros qualifying phase and final tournament.
Yet, in opting for additional on-field officials at the expense of incorporating ins...
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