Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt has admitted the goal-line official made an error in awarding his side a late penalty in the 4-3 win over Sporting Lisbon but joked: "Super idea, Platini! The system works."
An hour into the clash in Gelsenkirchen, Schalke had been 3-1 ahead against a Sporting side reduced to 10 men in the first half, but two goals from Adrien Silva looked to have salvaged a point for the Portuguese side as the match entered injury time.
However, Sporting were controversially denied when a late goal-bound header struck Jonathan Silva's face and Russian referee Sergei Karasev, having initially waved play on, was advised by his goal-line assistant that the ball had struck the player's hand. A penalty was awarded, and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting stepped up to convert the spot kick and secure the victory.
UEFA president Michel Platini, who introduced the "additional assistant referees" concept as an alternative to technology, has faced criticism in the past over the idea, despite eventually securing the support of prominent former referee Pierluigi Collina, who is now head of UEFA's refereeing body.
Heldt joked that, after Tuesday's result, he too had warmed to the idea.
"In the past, I have sometimes been highly critical of that guy on the goal line, but this time I can only say: 'Super idea, Platini! The system works,'" he said, according to DerWesten.
However, he added: "I can understand their anger. I'd be out of my head if I were on the receiving end."
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, whose injury-time header had been blocked, added: "I'd be very annoyed to lose like that. It also happens to us during a season that we lose because of a mistake by whoever. Video evidence could help the referee."
Platini has said last year he is now open to the use of goal-line technology but stressed it should be used in conjunction with the goal-line assistants.