NEW YORK (MLS/) – Major League Soccer would implement goal-line technology quickly if it’s approved in July by the sport’s rules-making body.
“We’re interested in being a test league and we hope that we could achieve that,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Thursday while speaking to the Associated Press Sports Editors. “I would be open to whatever it is that could be done to ensure that we have goal-line technology.”
The International Football Association Board meets July 2 and could approve Sony Corp.’s Hawk-Eye or GoalRef, owned by a German-Danish company. Following a series of erroneous calls in high-profile games ranging from the 2010 World Cup to this year’s FA Cup, there could be more support for goal-line technology among tradition-bound soccer officials.
Hawk-Eye is a camera-based ball-tracking system used in tennis and cricket. GoalRef employs a magnetic field with a special ball. Both could be approved.
Each system sends a signal within a second of the ball crossing the line to the referee, who makes the final decision.
If approval is granted in July, Garber said, MLS could implement the technology at some point during this season, which began in March. The Premier League hopes to use it for its 2012-13 season, which starts in August.
“There’s a lot more that we need to learn about it, understanding the process,” Garber said. “The bottom line here is that I would be open to using goal-line technology as soon as it is made available.”
He said the league’s policy of using video review to punish players for simulation was working.
“Americans generally … view that aspect of the game as not fitting with our culture or our view of fairness,” he said. “We have almost eliminated that unpleasant or unsavory aspect of the game from our sport.”
Garber also said MLS was interested in Spanish forward Raul Gonzalez, who said Thursday he would leave European soccer when his two-year contract with Schalke expires at the end of the season. Raul, who turns 35 in June, has not said whether he prefers MLS to clubs in Asia.
Garber said the league remained focused on placing its 20th team in the New York area, with talks for a stadium taking precedent over the ownership group. He said there are several groups interested and there would be a “near auction” for ownership rights.
Beyond that, other markets that interest the league in expansion beyond 20 teams include Miami, Orlando, the Southwest and Atlanta. The league also is working with Chivas USA, which would like to leave the Home Depot Center and relocate within the Los Angeles area.
“We’re got to work hard to figure out a repositioning and a re-energized approach,” he said.
With the addition of Montreal this year, average attendance in the league is 19,493 through 53 games, up 12 percent from 17,370 at this point last year.
“It’s about trying to improve the quality of play,” Garber said. “The NFL doesn’t have to think about that. The NBA doesn’t have to think about that. We’re competing against global soccer here. We’ve got to raise the quality of play within a very focused and strategic economic system yet be able to offer fans something that they will think is of similar quality as the Premier League or Serie A or La Liga. We don’t think we’re going to be better than the Premier League.”
Garber praised the Seattle Sounders for marketing beyond their youth soccer community.
“It’s about young, urban, hip, 20-somethings who care about the game and really want something to cheer and celebrate for because they’re connected to it through EA, connected to it through watching Fox and the Premier League, and now we’re going to give them the chance to do it in their hometown,” he said.
Television ratings are down 18 percent on ESPN and ESPN2 through three telecasts but the new package on NBC Sports Network has averaged 118,000 viewers for six telecasts, up 84 percent from last year on Fox Soccer Channel, which has a smaller distribution.
“We’ve got to grow our televisions ratings in order to achieve our goals,” he said. “We could turn that switch on if we wanted to invest in more David Beckhams, because we’ve seen ratings growth with (Thierry) Henry and Beckham when those two players are on national television.”
He said uniform sponsorship deals had generated nearly $ 100 million for MLS and its teams and that the Los Angeles Galaxy’s agreement with Herbalife alone was worth $ 40 million over its term. In addition, Garber said a media private equity fund has invested in Soccer United Marketing. The league has no plans anytime soon to switch to an international calendar or start relegation.
MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more MLS news see: Garber says MLS would use goal-line technology.
Either way, I’m glad he released it
Gleason must have received some bounty payments to be trying so hard to keep these recordings hidden.
Even if he didn’t have the right, who cares? If President Obama hired a private videographer to tape his daughter’s birthday and he caught Obama or another leader committing treason, should theybe allowed to block it’s release? Of course not, and this was treason in football terms.
So if he was contractually obliged to not release private information, and he broke that contract, violating the trust of his dying friend, that’s okay. Morals, values, trust all okay to violate.
fissels says:
Apr 6, 2012 6:59 PM
Either way, I’m glad he released it
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Dude, is your life that boring?
its should have been released to the nfl, none of us want to have our daily nfl news being covered by this crap i want hear about free agency and trades and draft. screw this bs. go watch a mexican soap opera if your so hungry for girl drama..
i dont think he did anything wrong by releasing the tape like i said before he did more good then bad “if he did any bad at all”
He knew better. And should be ashamed of taking advantage of a sick man. Karma will strike back.
Just like Donte Whitner had a right to hit Pierre Thomas. Those who live in glass houses should throw no stones.
This audio recording is the worst thing that could happen in terms of dishing out penalties to the Saints players. NFL needs Gregg Williams to testify at the appeals for the penalties to stick. But he’s only doing that if he thinks he has a chance to be reinstated and will get hired by some team. Now there’s no chance either will happen so there’s no incentive for him to sell out his players and testify. Thus the Jonathan Vilma’s will get off free.
If Pamphilon were doing out of a sense of what’s right, he would have released the audio before now. The fact that he was only granted access to the Saints through the trust of Steve Gleason shows that he violated that trust. Even if he gained no monetary profit from the release of the audio, he still gains name-recognition from the act. Mike Silver admits as much. I think it’s a sad commentary on what some people will do for themselves, while betraying those who have invested so much in them.
I’ve met Gleason, and possibly there is no greater human being than him.
I’ll take his side any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
It’s not child rape but not only does Pamphilon have a right, he has an obligation – just as McQueary had an obligation to report Sandusky to police, not just his superiors.
Conspiracy to maim – as Williams “conspired” to do in relation to the already-concussed Kyle Williams – is a felony under 18 U.S.C. § 1959 whether maiming actually occurs or not. The sooner Williams, Payton, Loomis et al. understand this, the sooner they can/should shut their yaps about “appeals.”
I’ve heard a lot of people belittle Pamphilon for releasing the tape because he got paid for them. He claims he didn’t, and frankly I don’t think it matters whether he did or didn’t.
There’s a strong incentive in these situations to not do/say anything because of the vitriol that would ensue (particularly by Saints’ fans). Why shouldn’t someone be incentivized to do the “right” thing? We protect and attempt to incentivize whistle blowers, why not someone in Pamphilon’s situation?
There is no winner here…. kind of like hearing when your girlfriend is sleeping around with everybody.(probably with most of you guys…the odds would be good).
it may be the truth…but it’s not pleasant
Gleason should shut up. He’ll gain no public sentiment by appearing to have been trying to cover up for the Saints and Geegg Williams. The genie is out of the bottle now.
It doesn’t make any difference now, it’s out and there’s no way it wouldn’t have been released. I mean do you think they were going to put it in the same vault as Bin Laden’s dead photo?
When will people learn: if you don’t want it published, don’t let it happen.
Gleason needs to decide if he wants his tragic legacy to end being complicit with other Saints players trying to end other players careers. Saying that he disapproves of the release of this video, means he approves of the behavior and is trying to protect Gregg Williams. Gregg Williams has admitted guilt, and out of all the various characters in this drama, he’s the only one to apologize and take his punishment like a man. Everyone else is making excuses and throwing Williams under the bus.
Just because you suffer from a tragic fatal disease, doesn’t make you right. I have enormous sympathy for what Gleason and his family is going through, it is a nightmarish tragedy but to sit there and listen to your coach instruct your teammates to hit someone who is suffering from multiple concussions, while you are dying of a degenerative neurological disease is hypocritical. Every member of that Saints team is just as complicit as Gregg Williams, and should be held accountable by their union brethren.
The only criticism Pamphilon deserves is not releasing this soon enough.
I feel bad for Steve Gleason and his condition, really I do…..
But his being upset that he was somewhat complicit in further exposing something illicit he was undoubtedly involved in…..doesn’t garner more sympathy from me.
Interesting. Gleason developed ALS, which many researchers think is correlated to his football playing days, because of hits to the head that people like Williams is promoting. Yet hes mad that Pamphilon released this audio. Some people just dont get it. Youre dying, what do you care if the Saints organization likes you or not? How about trying to make a difference before the end of your life and prevent future players from having your life tragically cut short like yours.
“Thus the Jonathan Vilma’s will get off free.”
Nope, Vilma’s career is over. 1) Saints are gonna cut him regardless (Lofton and Hawthrone were signed to take his spot). 2) Vilma’s gonna turn 30 soon, and it showed last year that he’s not a difference maker anymore. 3) After the bounty scandal, no team in their right mind is gonna sign him and deal with the backlash.
Sean Pamphilon, you are the worst type of human being. There is no way for you to convince us that a man struggling for his life deserves to be treated this way. He had confidence in you, and thought he had your word as “man”. You are obviously not the “man” he thought you were, and that sickens us more than you will ever know. Shame on you!
“I’ve met Gleason, and possibly there is no greater human being than him.”
And yet he’s ok with covering up evidence of the pay-to-injure activities by his former team? If he’s such a great person, he shouldn’t have a problem with this. In fact, he should have released the audio himself…. Now, maybe he is a great human being and he just doesn’t realize what a douche he looks like by trying to cover this up. Emotions often cloud judgement, even for good people.
It’s not child rape but not only does Pamphilon have a right, he has an obligation – just as McQueary had an obligation to report Sandusky to police, not just his superiors.
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Ridiculous. The NFL had all the evidence it needed. This whole thing was already in the public domain and the audio brought nothing new. It was a salacious attempt at breaking a piece of news.
There isn’t an NFL team that doesn’t do the same thing. A documentary maker is only there for one reason, to make a documentary not report what happens in the locker rooms before and after games. This is not life, this is professional football which is a violent game and has it’s own rules and they are nor felonies.
Has to be done properly. What purpose did it serve to be released? To show us who Williams really is, as if we didn’t already know? We can’t say Pamphilon wanted the league to know, because the league already brought down the hammer on Williams. One may say he released it so the NFL can make sure Williams stays out of the league for good. Ok, then why not release it privately to the league? You may very well get the result you’re seeking AND you do not threaten the relationship of the individual you’re chronicling for a good cause. Releasing it to the media only accomplishes 2 things: the public knows what actually was said behind the scenes (which appeals to our intrigue and is really irrelevant) and it brings in to question Pamphilon’s true motives for doing this. Do I condone what Williams did? Absolutely not. Has my feelings changed about him and the situation since hearing this audio? Absolutely not. So what does it matter to us of whether the audio was released or not?? It doesn’t. Only thing this audio being released accomplished was a burned bridge with a dying man…because our feelings about Williams and what he did remains the same.
“none of us want to have our daily nfl news being covered by this crap i want hear about free agency and trades and draft”
Really? That explains why this and other related stories on here are some of the top commented articles. Including your own comment here. Don’t speak for the rest of us…. The title of this story was clearly not about free agency, trades or drafts. And you’re interested too or you wouldn’t be here….
The NFL is not the cosa nostra that lives by omerta, humilta and vendetta!
Sean Pamphilon is a greasy PIG ! He violated his contract plain and simple don’t care to read his B.S. and PFT shouldn’t post anything of this A**-Wipe he definitely got paid directly or his funds are sitting in the Cayman Islands……………”Two wrongs don’t make a right” He probably attends funerals and then takes a “Whizz” on the caskets.
ascensionparish says: Apr 6, 2012 7:09 PM
I’ve met Gleason, and possibly there is no greater human being than him.
I’ll take his side any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
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Mr ascensionparish,
Your screen name suggests you may not be totally unbiased on this one. However, you are to be credited for avoiding the use of ‘Whodat’.
…and we have the right to say what a piece of !@#$ % he is – and I’m sayin’ it!
All over that audiotape that has taken the NFL by storm
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Ummm…….. No.
Actually, it’s all over the illegal program of the New Orleans Saints to intentionally attempt to injure and maim opposing players, and then lie to the Commissioner while continuing this abhorant policy even as you know investigators are watching you.
THAT’S what this “all over”.
Can we move on yet? This stuff is getting in the way of me enjoying football.
I can’t believe people are saying he was wrong for releasing them. It’s not like he released personal information about Gleason or something the man did wrong. It was about Gregg Williams.
He probably felt the audio needed to be released to the public because so many people were flabbergasted by the lengthy suspension, so it made all of those people shut up and realize how crazy Williams is. Pamphilon probably wanted to let the fans know that Williams should NEVER be coaching in the NFL again, and maybe he wants parents to know that there are (possibly) coaches in the high school and collegiate level telling players to do the same thing. I think he only did good by doing this. I applaud you, Pamphilon.
I thought Gregg only told his players to injure other players, like “put him out of the game and I’ll give you money”… But when I heard the audio, he sounds like a sadistic man who loves seeing people get hurt, killed even. Sick guy.
I feel bad for sean peyton and his crew because they have been turned into offseason media filler… gotta keep the consumers of sports media well fed… even when the players are vacationing in aruba…
He said; He said. I hope they have it on tape, so we all get to hear who actually had the right to release the Williams Rant.
I would like an investigation into whether the refs were paid off in the Saints vs Vikings game. Yes Im a Vikings fan.
PGUI88 he didnt take advantage of anybody he did what he knew what was right. i want to know how he actually took advantage of him? did he plan this? was he some how involved and was like “o ya gonna make my name big off this?” i mean seriously at what point did he take advantage?
I find it interesting that this guy is being accepted by ex-players and current players, but the player who will eventually be identified, that blew the whistle is a “snitch.” I wonder what warren sapp has to say about Mr. Pamphilon? Snitches still get stiches fat man? Or does that player get a thank you from everyone who now sees just how ugly this situation really was?
If it was so crucial that this be released, why didn’t he turn it over to the league as soon as it happened? Instead he waited over two months, and then released it himself. What’s up with that??? Can any one explain???
Did Sean Payton or Micky Loomis make that speech? No. Were they even in the room when that speech was being made? Probably not b/c Pamphilion would’ve let it be known if they were. Yeah they knew about the bounty system, but are they twisted as G.Williams no. I guess its guilty by association… Right? I bet all you people at one point or another covered the a$ $ of a coworker before. Payton and Loomis are basically guilty for trying to cover G.Williams a$ $ by lying to the commish.
“Not motivated by greed” but suddenly everyone knows who he is and have been made aware of his previous documentaries.
Heck, if one fool went out and bought a copy of one of his previous films because of the publicity he probably doubled his sales overnight!
if that audio was to be documented with Gleasons children, then we have a bigger problem on our hands.
Gleason was to use that? im not sure if he violated anything other than a handshake agreement.
Williams violated the shield, the saints work for the shield. If anything its more whistleblowin and finger pointing if anything.
He didnt even release the video the audio was from, which was probably far worse.
Ummm…….. No.
Actually, it’s all over the illegal program of the New Orleans Saints to intentionally attempt to injure and maim opposing players, and then lie to the Commissioner while continuing this abhorant policy even as you know investigators are watching you.
THAT’S what this “all over”.
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And yet there is zero evidence of any kind that any of those players played their game any differently because of Williams’ sticks & stones. Try again.