Don Garber wants MLS to adopt goal-line technology right away

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber met with the Associated Press Sports Editors organization today, and had some very interesting things to say.

The headline item was his strong advocacy for technology to determine whether a shot crosses the goal line.

There have been quite a few instances in recent years when goals have not been given because the referee and/or linesman did not see the ball cross the line when it did. There was also a goal given when the ball did not cross the line in this past Sunday's FA Cup semifinal between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

"The bottom line here is that I would be open to using goal-line technology as soon as it is made available," Garber said.

Garber also talked about the league's television ratings, which is a subject he gets asked about almost every time he meets with the media.

MLS ratings on ESPN and ESPN2 are down 18 percent this year compared to 2011. But as I noted earlier this week, NBC Sports Network's ratings are significantly higher than what Fox Soccer Channel delivered with an equivalent rights deal in past years.

There's a compilation of viewing figures for the ESPN, ESPN2 and NBC Sports Network broadcasts so far this season here. It's noteworthy that ESPN's best audience and NBC Sports Network's two best audiences came from broadcasts involving the Union.

The last thing worth mentioning from Garber's remarks came from the last line of the AP story, which you can read here.

The league has no plans anytime soon to switch to an international calendar or start relegation.

Condolences to those of you who think those concepts are worth Garber's time. If you'd like to make the case for them, meet me at PPL Park early next February. I'll bring the snow.