FIFA Confirms Goal-Line Technology Will Be Implemented For 2014 World Cup

FIFA confirmed that goal-line technology will be used at the 2014 World Cup, as it "invited tenders to provide the system," according to Josh Burrows of the LONDON TIMES. FIFA President Sepp Blatter had "previously stated his commitment to bringing in goal-line technology for the tournament." It was trialled at the Club World Cup in December and "will be rolled out" for this summer’s Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup, both in Brazil. In a statement, FIFA said, "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" (LONDON TIMES, 2/19).

MAKING A U-TURN: REUTERS' Brian Homewood reported the two goal-line technology systems, HawkEye and GoalRef, "have so far been licensed by FIFA." FIFA said that a third system, developed in Germany, "had already passed examinations and that the providers were in licensing discussions." A fourth system, also German, "has also been tested with the results due this week." The use of goal-line technology "had previously been rejected by FIFA, which performed a U-turn following the controversy" over England's Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany in the 2010 World Cup. Replays "clearly showed that the ball had crossed the line after bouncing down off the underside of the crossbar," but match officials did not award the goal. Germany, 2-1 ahead at the time, went on to win 4-1 (REUTERS, 2/19).

DOUBLE VISION: The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported HawkEye involves the use of cameras, while GoalRef is a more scientific system, involving "a low-frequency magnetic field surrounding the goal and an electronic circuit in the ball, with goal confirmation being transmitted in a fraction of a second to a watch worn by the referee" (DAILY RECORD, 2/19). In London, Giuseppe Muro reported UEFA President Michel Platini is "believed to prefer the use of five match officials, a system which has been used in the Champions League and the Europa League" (EVENING STANDARD, 2/19).