Valencian Rafael Vizcaíno "is the inventor of a pioneering prototype of padded football goals aiming to avoid dangerous accidents during play," according to Kristin Suleng of EL PAIS. Vizcaíno "had been concerned that goals make playing football a high-risk sport." After "seven years of investigation," the Spanish Football League (LFP) unanimously approved in April of the "installation of goals of the future at La Liga and second division fields, a decision waiting to be ratified by club presidents." Vizcaíno: "A lot of kids practice every day on football or handball fields, and a blow can have very serious consequences on their growth, as their brains are not fully developed. One cannot forget that every year, a notable quantity of kids die from accidents with goals. It is urgent to avoid this." A study by Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (IBV) showed a 50% reduction in impact when falling and hitting the new goals. The IBV also ran tests that determined that the new goals produce the same rebounds when a ball hits the post. The author of the IBV study said, "The result has been that the new goals have the same rebound as the traditional ones, in a way that there is no obstacle in using these professionally." Vizcaíno said, "It will not be long before a rule arrives that prohibits goals made of iron and wood where children and professionals worth millions play." Vizcaíno added that "he has spent from his own pocket" €30,000 ($40,900) on the project (EL PAIS, 6/4).
