The FA expects goal-line technology "to be adopted by Premier League clubs this week," according to Richard Conway of the BBC. Premier League clubs meet on Thursday with goal-line technology set to be agreed for next season, "while the FA wishes to install the technology at Wembley." FA General Secretary Alex Horne said, "I always thought it was an ideal piece of technology to allow into the game." The FA and Premier League are running a joint-tender process for the supply, installation and maintenance of 21 systems -- all 20 Premier League stadiums and Wembley -- "in an attempt to secure a better deal." British-based system Hawk-Eye, well known for providing tennis and cricket with ball-tracking technology, "is competing" with the three other FIFA-licensed firms -- Cairos, GoalControl and GoalRef -- to win the contract. Goal-line technology will also be used in next season's FA Cup, from the third round onwards in any stadium fitted with the system, "and Horne sees the technology as a way for the world's oldest knockout competition to keep pace with a football landscape that has changed beyond recognition since the foundation of the Premier League" in '92 (BBC, 4/9). REUTERS' Tom Pilcher wrote the FA "want technology to be officially introduced at the pre-season Community Shield fixture" after lobbying for its inclusion for some time. Horne: "Technology that says 'yes, the ball has crossed the line' and lets the referee know makes an awful lot of sense to me" (REUTERS, 4/9).
NO EVIDENCE, NO CRIME: REUTERS' Mike Collett wrote Club England Managing Dir Adrian Bevington said on Monday that the FA will tell FIFA that it has "found no evidence of racist chanting" by its fans at last month's World Cup qualifier against San Marino. The FA began an inquiry following the match on March 22 after Football Against Racism in Europe contacted FIFA "citing English fans for singing a racist song aimed at brothers Rio and Anton Ferdinand." Bevington: "Our security officers have gone through all the evidence which has been recorded and they cannot find or identify any individuals or groups chanting racist abuse" (REUTERS, 4/8).
