Goal-Line Technology Approved by FIFA

Today FIFA announced it will introduce goal-line technology at the December seven-team Club World Cup taking place in Japan.  After the Club World Cup, the plan is to use this technology at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil and then at the 2014 World Cup.  Goal-line technology has had a long and bumpy road to FIFA adoption.  Way back in February of 2011, FIFA President Sepp Blatter spoke in an interview that FIFA was very interested in leveraging the technology, but only if it worked perfectly, which would require a battering of tests.  Those sentiments remain but if everything goes well in Japan, widespread adoption does not appear to be too far off.

Both Hawk-Eye and GoalRef technology will be used in Japan after each was approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) panel.  I previously discussed the Hawk-Eye system back in March 2011 relating to the potential implementation of goal-line technology in Gaelic Football.  According to ESPN.com, “Hawk-Eye is a British camera-based system already used in tennis and cricket. GoalRef is a Danish-German project using magnetic sensors to track a special ball.” 

One important note, this technology comes with a large price tag.  The English Premier League will likely soon adopt one of these systems with an expected cost of around $250,000 per stadium.  MLS (Major League Soccer) has also indicated an interest in implementing goal-line technology. 

However FIFA’s announcements were not just about high-tech modifications today.  They also approved the use of 5 referees during matches (the additional refs to be placed beside each goal).  Similar to goal-line technology, this 5 ref system was approved in the effort to better officiate the most important part of the game, goals.  However the IFAB approval of both goal-line and the 5 ref system are considered purely optional...if a league chooses to use and pay for it. Ref. espn.com