Under-fire technology set to be used at Fratton Park as Portsmouth face Oxford United

Goal-line technology is set to be given a rare outing at Fratton Park in the play-offs.
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The under-fire system will be in play when Pompey take on Oxford United as both teams bid to reach the Championship next week.

The innovation has been placed firmly under the spotlight as it failed in the clash between Sheffield United and Aston Villa last week.

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Referee Michael Oliver failed to award a goal when he wasn’t alerted by the system, despite Ollie Norwood’s ball in clearly crossing the line.

Hawk-eye is the company behind the technology implemented in English football and later apologised for the error.

Now Pompey fans will be hoping their hopes of making the Championship aren’t impacted in the same way the Blades were denied victory in the 0-0 draw.

Hawk-eye are insistent the chances of that happening are extremely remote, with their cameras never previously failing to work in over 9,000 matches where the system has been in use.

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Goal-line technology has been present in English football since it was introduced in the Premier League in the 2013-14 season, after first being used at the 2012 club World Cup.

Michael Oliver was at the centre of the controversy as Hawk-eye failed last week. Simon Bellis/SportimageMichael Oliver was at the centre of the controversy as Hawk-eye failed last week. Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Michael Oliver was at the centre of the controversy as Hawk-eye failed last week. Simon Bellis/Sportimage

The Championship followed suit at the start of the 2017-18 campaign with the play-offs doing likewise at the end of that season.

The play-offs games with Sunderland last season had the technology in place, but Fratton Park has yet to see the technology called upon for any borderline decisions.

Pompey were at the centre of the debate for goal-line technology to be introduced in 2010 when Birmingham saw a clear goal from Liam Ridgwell not given on the same weekend Fifa rejected proposals for it to be brought in.

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