Ligue 1: "Goal-line technology is too expensive for France" (Frederic Thiriez, president of LFP)

"Goal-line technology is far too expensive," said Frederic Thiriez, president of the LFP (French Professional Football League), speaking to the French radio station RMC on 08/08/2014. "France does not have the means to afford a system that costs about €400,000 per stadium. And I really do mean €400,000 per stadium."

"I find that to be a shame because in 2007 I had proposed to FIFA [Federation Internationale de Football Association] a video system that cost almost nothing because it used our broadcasters' cameras and positioned them a little differently on the goal line," said Thiriez. "It basically cost nothing, but that was not accepted. It's very unfortunate."

IFAB (International Football Association Board), the guardian of the laws of the game of football, unanimously approved goal-line technology on 05/07/2012. Two companies have had technologies certified by FIFA: the British company Hawk-Eye and the German company GoalControl.

Hawk-Eye technology has been used by Premier League and Eredivisie (Dutch top tier) since the 2013-14 season. The installation cost per pitch is…