A-League: Calls mount for goal line technology after Bruno Fornaroli denied penalty

Two ex-Socceroos have called for the introduction of goal line technology in the A-League after a controversial penalty call which could decide the race for the Premier’s Plate.

Bruno Fornaroli Filip Kutro penalty

A-League men’s coaches Tony Popovic and Mile Sterjovski believe goal line technology should be implemented in the competition after a controversial decision could have cost Melbourne Victory a goal in their 1-0 loss to Macarthur at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

Victory lost their first game of the A-League men this season to the Bulls but could have shared the points if a goal was awarded from a penalty in the 83rd minute.

Victory striker Bruno Fornaroli took the penalty but it was saved initially by Macarthur goalkeeper Filip Kurto who parried the ball.

KURTO DENIES BRUNO FROM THE PENALTY SPOT! 🙅‍♂️🧤

A massive save from the @mfcbulls goalkeeper to deny the Golden Boot leader and keep his side in the lead!

Tune in on Paramount+ 📺

📰 https://t.co/yEsAiOAmJu#MVCvMAC#ALMpic.twitter.com/1qeLxQ3QIi

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) February 10, 2024

The ball then went behind Kurto and as the goalkeeper tried to keep it away from the goal line it looked like, from the replays, to have gone past the white line and into the goal.

But VAR and the referee deemed the ball to not go over the line and with no goal line technology at their disposal, like in other leagues overseas, no goal was awarded.

The incident was the second week in a row the Bulls have been involved in controversy with balls near the goal line.

Bruno Fornaroli pleads for the goal to be given. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Last week their fourth goal against the Western Sydney Wanderers was disputed by Wanderers goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas who was adamant he stopped the ball from going over the line.

Again, with no goal line technology, the goal could not be checked.

“Maybe it does (need to come in),” Sterjovski said about the technology.

“(It’s been) two weeks in a row where it is very close.

“Maybe that might be the answer.”

Fornaroli takes possession earlier in the match. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Victory coach Tony Popovic said he could not conclusively say whether his team scored the goal from the penalty.

“From first angle I thought it crossed the line,” he revealed.

“VAR checked it so we have to trust it didn’t cross the line.

“From my angle I am far away, I’m on the half way line, I couldn’t see whether the whole ball crossed the line.

“They (referees) assured me it didn’t cross the line, so no goal.”

Popovic said goal line technology should have been implemented when the VAR was first introduced.

“We’ve probably needed that since we started VAR, so it’s nothing new,” he said.

“But we didn’t win the game of football, so that’s the most important (right now).”

Originally published as A-League: Calls mount for goal line technology after Bruno Fornaroli denied penalty