In Izmit’s small stadium on Friday night, France’s Nations League match against Turkey went ahead with VAR available but without goal-line technology, leaving one of football’s most decisive calls outside the automated system.
The Ligue 1 news
Goal-line technology is not compulsory during the group phase of the UEFA Nations League. The host association may choose to install it, provided the visiting team agrees, but Turkey-France was played without it.
The system, which determines whether the whole ball has crossed the line, will be mandatory for the Nations League finals in June, regardless of the teams that qualify.
The same approach will apply when qualifying for Euro 2028 begins in March. Goal-line technology will not be required for every qualifier, although it will be used at the finals themselves. Euro 2028 will be staged across England, Scotland, Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
UEFA’s position is largely shaped by cost. For some national associations and clubs, installing and operating the technology represents a significant expense, even if the price becomes more manageable when it is used across a large number of matches.
In France, the LFP pays roughly €1.5 million per year for goal-line technology across more than 300 fixtures, excluding the initial installation costs.
The next appointment in France
European competition rules are not identical across the board. Goal-line technology is compulsory in the Champions League and Europa League, but not in the Conference League, where it is required only for the final.
For France, the next major Nations League milestone is the finals in June, when the technology will be in place as standard rather than left to the choice of the host federation.
