As the world of soccer continues to evolve, so too have goal line technology systems. These technological tools enforce complete accuracy when judging whether or not a ball crosses the goal line. They are far more precise than relying on the referee’s judgment, which can often be hindered by the fact that he or she is standing yards away from the action, with their view blocked by flailing players and fans alike.

The most common goal line moving system consists of 14 cameras per goal, with seven located high up above the crossbar. These cameras capture different angles of the ball’s movement and a computer program evaluates the footage to determine when the ball hits the bar or crosses the line. The first time this technology was used at a major soccer event was in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Unfortunately, it quickly earned a reputation for inaccuracy, and Ligue 1 decided to abandon this method in 2018 and move forward with Hawk-Eye.

Another goal line moving system is based on copper wires embedded in the goal mouth and a passive electronic circuit that’s implanted inside the ball itself. As the ball moves through the goal mouth, it interacts with these circuits and creates a magnetic ripple that’s transmitted to a system computer. The computer then transmits a signal to the referee’s watch indicating whether or not the ball has crossed the goal line. The whole process takes less than a second and happens so fast that the referee can’t even blink.

However, it should be noted that this method is still somewhat prone to error and controversy. For instance, the copper wires can become tangled with the frame of the goal, which may cause a misinterpretation of the resultant reading. Then there’s the issue of the ball’s spin, which can have an effect on how the ball is read. The wind and weather can also affect the way the ball is read by the sensor.

In addition to goal line moving, other technical aspects of the game have been tweaked. For example, kicking into touch is now illegal in the United States. The rule change was a response to offensive tactics by some teams that involved kicking the ball into the end zone without touching the ground.

Deliberately moving the goalposts is a professional foul in rugby football and an unfair act in gridiron football. It gives the officials carte blanche to assess a penalty, which could include canceling out any attempted goal that is subsequently scored or invalidating any goal that was actually scored as a result of the moving of the goal posts. In rugby, the goalposts are anchored into the ground, so it is much more difficult to move them than it is in gridiron. This is why the kicking team will sometimes intentionally move the goalposts during a drop-out, hoping to confuse the official’s assessment of whether or not the ball is in the field of play.