Football bosses approve goal-line technology

  • World
Football bosses have given the go-ahead to goal-line technology Credit: Reuters/Eddie Keogh

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hailed today as a historic day for football after the International FA Board's landmark decision to permit its use in today's game.

Blatter told the BBC tonight Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany in South Africa pushed FIFA to start testing technology.

The debate has raged for years, fuelled by television replays that show that sometimes the referee gets it wrong, when they choose to award, or not to award a goal.

The clamour increased last month after Ukraine had a goal disallowed against England at Euro 2012.

The referee decided that John Terry had cleared Marko Devic's shot from out of the mouth of the goal, despite TV pictures that seemed to show it had crossed the line.

FIFA's president Sepp Blatter is now a firm supporter of goal-line technology.

He changed his mind after Frank Lampard's disallowed goal for England against Germany in the 2010 World Cup.

Video replays clearly showed that the ball had crossed the line.

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer watched as the ball crossed the line during the 2010 World Cup Credit: Reuters/Eddie Keogh
The referee failed to spot the ball had crossed the line at Free State stadium in Bloemfontein Credit: REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
Frank Lampard watched in disbelief as his goal was disallowed Credit: Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon

It is not just goals that should have been, but also goals that should never have been.

Chelsea's Juan Mata was controversially awarded a goal during the FA Cup semi-final with Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley in April, despite the ball not crossing the line.

Despite that, Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo acknowledges they need a new system.

Juan Mata was judged to have scored although the ball did not cross the line Credit: REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Two systems, Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, have been approved by the IFAB after passing a series of scientific tests.

Rags Martel went to see 'Goal Ref' being tested.

Technology could be introduced into the Premier League as soon as the new year following the decision at a meeting in Zurich.