Valcke signs off on goal-line technology

Goal-line technology is set to be used in elite competition after FIFA agreed to make it available at this month’s Club World Cup in Japan.

Calls have been growing in recent years for the introduction of technology to assist referees, accelerated by high-profile incidents such as Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal for England in their 2010 World Cup defeat to Germany.

After being rolled out at the Club World Cup, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke has said goal-line technology, involving either a computer chip imbedded in a ball or Hawk-Eye, will be implemented at major international tournaments.

“It’s a big day because it’s the first time that the technology will be used officially in a game or in games,” Valcke said ahead of the Club World Cup opener between Auckland City and Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

“Up to now it was just (an) experiment. This time an agreement was given by the International Football Association board, the remaining test was the installation test, they went through, they succeeded in this test, which means that the two systems are approved.

“I’ve just signed, 30 minutes ago, the official letter saying that these systems are approved.

“It’s important for FIFA because it means that we will use one of the systems (available) on the market at the Confederations Cup and the World Cup so for us, again, it’s a live experiment on a FIFA competition.

Valcke said referees will be responsible for testing the technology pre-match before deciding whether or not to employ it in the game itself.

“Ninety minutes before the game, the referee will pass three tests to the system and based on the result he will decide if he’s confident with the system and is using the system during the game,” he said.

“The referee is the one who is making the final decision.”