Soccer's governing body approves 'Goal-Line Technology' for 2014

Paris - Soccer's governing body, FIFA, has approved goal-line technology for the 2014 world cup tournament in Brasil. FIFA confirmed that the technology was successful during the World club tournament in Japan in 2012. FIFA will instal system in all 12 venues.

Since soccer is played over 90 minutes non-stop, unlike other sports, officials do not rely on instant replays. Once officials have made a call, the decision stands, even if replays later confirm that a ball crossed the goal-line. This has often created controversy and has prompted FIFA to examine goal-line technology. After testing two systems, the Hawkeye and Goalref, during the Club world championship in Japan last year, FIFA has announced that it will introduce the technology for the Confederation cup Brazil in 2013 and the FIFA World Cup Brasil in 2014. FIFA said on its website that the systems, which may include one developed in Germany that has been tested, were intended to support game officials and would be available in all 12 stadia, pending successful installation and pre-match referee inspections. After a successful implementation of Goal-Line Technology (GLT) at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December 2012, FIFA has decided to use GLT at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 and 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

The aim is to use GLT in order to support the match officials and to install a system in all stadia, pending the successful installation, and pre-match referee tests.

With different technologies on the market, FIFA has launched a tender today, setting out the technical requirements for the two forthcoming competitions in Brazil.

According to Bleacher Reports all indications are that a wristwatch system will be used, where officials would have a sensor on their stop watch. This will obviously eliminate wasting time and permit for an instant decision, with the official just looking at his watch. While FIFA has made this decision, it has not yet been made by UEFA, but it will certainly be forthcoming.