The Premier League has confirmed that it is "considering introducing the vanishing spray that has been one of the successes of this summer's World Cup," according to Mark Cue of the LONDON TIMES. The EPL said that the "possible introduction is to be discussed by the 20 top-flight clubs at their next shareholders' meeting." However, it is "unlikely to take place in time for the big kick-off" on Aug. 16 as no meeting is scheduled until at least next month, while clubs "step up their preparations for the new season." The views of the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) "will also need to be canvassed." The spray has been "praised widely by referees on the grounds that it has a clear preventative effect and means they do not end up having to hand out yellow cards to players who fail to respect the distance" (LONDON TIMES, 7/8).
MOVING FORWARD: SKY SPORTS reported vanishing spray "will be adopted in next season's Champions League." The man who invented it, Heine Allemagne, would "like to see the game's major associations use it for their own competitions -- including the Premier League." Allemagne worked with a company to "concoct the spray from vegetable oil derivatives." He has now obtained the int'l patent for the firm, "with the spray already widely used for matches in Brazil and Argentina." Allemagne said, "It's already been agreed that UEFA will use this in their championships" (SKY SPORTS, 7/8). REUTERS reported Allemagne, 43, has given FIFA "free use of his invention at the finals." He said that he is "driven by a love of the game and helping referees keep discipline rather than becoming a multi-millionaire." Allemagne: "I had no commercial ambition, I wanted to develop the product. Perhaps there will be some financial side but that can come later, I wanted to get the product perfect for football" (REUTERS, 7/8).
