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Two methods of goal-line technology have been approved by IFAB for use in major leagues and tournaments. We can hear the collective sigh of “about time” from here.
Both the well-known Hawk-Eye and the lesser-known GoalRef technology have now passed Fifa’s strict testing and met the relevant criteria, and now the International Football Association Board (or IFAB, for short) has approved the technology for use in professional games.
The tech will be used for the very first time at the Fifa Club World Cup this December, and if it proves to be successful it will be used at the 2013 Confederations cup and then at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
We could also see goal-line technology used in the English Premier League as soon as next season. The league has expressed its need for a way to categorically confirm if a ball crosses the line, and has said it wants something put into place “as soon as practically possible”.
But how does goal line technology work? We’ve seen Hawk-Eye in action in both Cricket and Tennis already, and it works in a similar way. Six cameras are used around the goal line, allowing a triangular cross-section to be analysed closely to see if a ball crosses the line. If a ball does fully cross the line, a radio signal will be sent to the referee’s watch to indicate this, rather than having a man in a box watching replays and declaring a goal.
The FA already have Hawk-Eye tech in place at Wembley, and they say it just needs to be fully calibrated and licensed for use in matches. This means we could see the tech used at cup finals, as well as in the Premier League, which is expected to use it as soon as they can approve and install it, which could take up until this December.
One thing’s for sure: John Terry will have to start bribing the referee if he wants to get away with any more so-called ‘goal-line clearances’ in major tournaments!
What do you think about goal-line technology? About damn time or a waste of money? Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.
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