Adult rating handed to Paddy Power 'goal-line' ad

In the same weekend as Andy Carroll’s non-goal in the FA Cup Final stirred an ongoing debate, Paddy’s Power’s goal-line technology ad has landed itself an 18-rating from YouTube.

The 30-second ad is an irreverent take on the possible England football team’s behaviour while at EURO 2012 this summer and depicts Eastern European ladies posing in a provocative manner.

It concludes by proposing “goal-line” technology to ensure England’s footballers don’t “cross the line” while off the pitch and is a satirical take on the bawdy antics of top-flight footballers.

While this may sound innocent enough it’s perhaps the graphical depictions of ‘goal-line penetration’, see below, accompanying which has caused such a stir in YouTube towers.

As a result, web-surfers clicking through to the ad must "agree that this warning will no longer appear for content flagged as inappropriate." See the ad below and make up your own mind.

Paddy Power – Goal-line Technology

The ad is true to the controversial brand-voice that Paddy Power has adopted and follows the bookmaker receiving a flood of complaints for its blind football/cat-kicking ad campaign. 

Ever eager to capitalise on an opportunity to gain publicity Paddy Power has issued a press release labelling YouTube as “the fun police” highlighting that the piece had already had a six-figure view count.

A Paddy Power spokesman said, “This is political correctness gone bonkers and it seems that our censorship friends could do with some common sense technology!”

How about a no goal line technology?

Recently most of the footballing world has been debating the use of goal-line technology. Pundits and fan's have been in a rage about the series of incidents- notably in Sunday's FA cup semi final clash between Chelsea & Spurs.

The issue of a goal is such a crucial one, it defines a game. So when an official misses an incident and makes a wrong call undoubtedly the talk will turn to  technology and how it can be used to make the most simple of calls. I appreciate and understand the need for clarity in the game, I do. Fifa the world's governing body have already ran trials in the past, whilst there are a whole range of system's that could be used. From Adidas sponsored microchips in footballs, to the Hawk-eye system which has been used in both Tennis & International Cricket.

All of which could be the solution to the age old question of "did that ball cross that line" which has been plaguing the beautiful game for years and years. From the Wonder of Tofik Bahramov (That Russian linesman in the 66 final) to the heartache of  Frank Lampard's disallowed effort in South Africa 2010 (you can see that tear jerking moment just below). Football is full of incident and intrigue which provides the discourse of debate which makes Football so unique.  


Across the world there is no sport that can provide the unlimited conversation topics that football can. That's thanks in part to media blanket media coverage and particularly the rise of Twitter, which is explained so elloquently by Henry Winter in his column yesterday. 

We have radio station's dedicated to the ramblings of the impassioned football fan. Be they delighted or incandescent with rage over the latest incident. From diving, goal line technology and star strikers spending 5 months in Argentina and then subsequently returning. Would some of this debate be lost if we had just the mere introduction of goal-line technology?   

I fear for the rugbyization of football. If goal-line decisions are introduced where do you stop? Would borderline offside decisions be next? Then it surely would lead to video scrutiny on off the ball incidents. The call for video technology would be widespread and unrelenting until every shred of doubt would be taken away. Leaving the game simply black and white starving the game of those shades of grey, splurges of red mist and green's of envy that brightens football. 


So why not a turn away from technology, and an embrace to enjoy the game for what it is warts and all.  If mistakes are made who cares? Afterall it's the passionate arguments down the pub/ radio/ television that makes football full of life.