IFAB/FIFA clears Goal-Line Technology in Football!

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football, convened at the Home of FIFA in Zurich today for a Special Meeting under the chairmanship of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. There were three topics on the agenda of the IFAB today - goal-line technology, additional assistant referees and Law 4 – The Players’ Equipment (specifically the "headscarf").

The issue of goal-line technology (GLT) has been discussed for years with FIFA rather reluctant to introduce a technical assistance in football, but the goal of co-hosts Ukraine not given against England at Euro2012 was the last instance which finally tilted the issue in favour of goal-line technology.

Now following the conclusion of a nine-month test process that began in August 2011, led by EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), the IFAB unanimously decided to approve in principle both companies that took part in Test Phase 2: GoalRef (Germany) and Hawk-Eye (England). This approval is subject to a final installation test at each stadium before the systems can be used in 'real' football matches, in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme for GLT.

This is a momentous day for football with the use of technology now being finally allowed by the world governing body FIFA and the International Football Association Board. But it will take some more months before it is implemented. The IFAB was keen to stress that technology will only be utilised for the goal-line and for no other areas of the game.