IFAB Approval of Goal-line Technology, Hailed as "Momentous Day"

(WFI) The International Football Association Board has unanimously approved the introduction of goal-line technology in a historic day for world football.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke revealed the landmark decision of the IFAB meeting at a press conference in Zurich on Thursday. It follows years of debate and controversy around the benefits and drawbacks of the technology.

He confirmed that two different GLT systems will make their debut at the Club World Cup in Japan in December - GoalRef and Hawk-Eye.

FIFA will also use the technology at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil and the World Cup the following year.

The IFAB also approved the use of additional assistant referees that include an extra official behind each goal-line to help the referee make critical goal-line and penalty box decisions. UEFA trialled the five-strong team of officials at Euro 2012 and in the Champions League and Europa League over the past two years.

In another milestone decision, the board also approved the use of headscarves for Muslim female footballers.

The landmark GLT decision comes after two years of intensive testing that followed fresh debate about GLT's implementation sparked by England’s ‘ghost goal’ at the World Cup in South Africa. Frank Lampard's shot hit the crossbar and, video replays made clear, bounced down over Germany's goal-line but the ref failed to award the goal.

Sepp Blatter, who today admitted that he was "at a loss for words" when Lampard's goal was not given, said he was a happy FIFA president.

"We are in the 127th year of this organisation’s [IFAB] existence. It is their decision to bring technology into the game, but only goal-line technology," he stressed.

"There was a call for this technology and now I can say that we did it."

Representatives of the four British FAs, each of whom get one vote, and FIFA which has four votes hailed the decision as a historic day for football.

Alex Horne, general secretary of the English FA, said: "It’s a great day for football today."

Irish FA chief Patrick Nelson said: "The three decisions we’ve made today are ones that will be long lasting and resonate around the world. They have been taken carefully and unanimously and we look forward to their implementation in the years to come.

"It’s a momentous day – the beginning of something new in football. We look forward to the whole issue of goal line technology developing over time."

What Next for GLT?

Commenting on the next steps for GoalRef and Hawk-Eye, who have passed a new phase of testing since March, Valcke said: "These companies now have to produce and build a number of systems that any organiser can use."

With FIFA set to implement the system for one of its high-profile tournaments in each of the next three years starting with the Club World Cup in Japan this year, questions are now being asked about installation in stadia.

"There will be a final test each time the system in installed in a stadium so each company has to go and pass this individual test," he said.

"The final certification, which means it will be stamped by FIFA, will be given only then. This certification license will be given for 12 months. For sure there will be a revision of the laws of the game and this will enter force immediately."

Valcke said that in introducing the system for the next few years of FIFA competitions world football's governing body would foot the bill to install them in the stadiums in Brazil, rather than the organisers of those events.

"Those stadiums will have the technology after 2014, they will just have to pay for maintenance" he added.

At the Club World Cup, Valcke revealed that both GLT systems will be used in the competition, with one of each being set up at either of the two host stadiums.

The FIFA No.2 played down fears about the expense of installing the systems, saying each would cost between $150,000 and $250,000 and the price should drop over time.

"The cost of a plasma screen 10 years ago was 10,000 euros – now it is 500 euros," he said. "I’m sure the cost will go down. It’s an expensive system today, but the event organisers they can decide whether to invest in such a system or not."

By INSIDER's Christian Radnedge and Mark Bisson

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