Goal-line technology which has been a contentious subject for many years has been confirmed by FIFA today for use at the 2014 World cup. This is following a successful trial at the Club World Cup in Japan last December.
The technology will be used in all football stadiums throughout the tournament, provided they are installed successfully and satisfy the pre-match referee tests.
The goal-line technology will be used at the 2013 Confederations Cup, which is also being held in Brazil. It follows a similar announcement last July, where FIFA said it had plans to adopt the technology in both tournaments. At that point however, the implementation wasn’t confirmed.
FIFA and other football officials have been wary of adopting the technology, and there are a few reasons why; a global rollout will be expensive, and could undermine the authority of a human referee. Football is also a fast and fluid sport and as a result, there have been concerns that the constant use of goal-line technology could lead to video replays.
The pressure has mounted over the years though as more contentious goals have been wrongly allowed or disallowed.
FIFA would be launching a tender to review the different technologies that could be used in the upcoming competitions. Two companies that supply goal-line technology are already licensed under FIFA’s relevant Quality Programme. These firms, alongside other goal-line technology providers that are in the middle of the licensing process, have been invited to take part in the tender.
FIFA will then invite some of these firms for an inspection of the stadiums that will be used in the Confederation Cup around mid-March. A final decision is expected in early April.
Source: The Next Web
