<<Print>>

Goal-line technology has been given the go-ahead by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) following a vote in Zurich on Thursday. Two systems - Hawk-Eye and GoalRef - have been approved after passing a series of scientific tests. They will first be used at December's Club World Cup - which features Chelsea - and, if successful, at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup. It could be implemented in the Premier League midway through next season. In a statement following the announcement, the Premier League said they were a "long term advocate of goalline technology". "We welcome today's decision by IFAB and will engage in discussions with both Hawkeye and GoalRef in the near future with a view to introducing goal-line technology as soon as is practically possible," they added. The desire to bring in goal-line technology increased after Ukraine were denied an equaliser after the ball appeared to cross the line in a 1-0 defeat by England at Euro 2012. That incident led to Fifa president Sepp Blatter adding his support to calls to bring in technology to help in such decisions.