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FIFA selects goal-line technology system

Hawk-Eye will not be used by FIFA © Getty Images

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FIFA has selected GoalControl as its preferred provider of goal-line technology for use at this summer's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

GoalControl, created by a German firm, was only licensed by last month as part of the tender process drew to a close, but has been picked ahead of the Hawk-Eye, GoalRef and Cairos systems to be implemented in Brazil in June.

FIFA said in a statement that the ball-tracking system would be used at next year's World Cup "provided that the performance of the system during this year's Festival of Champions meets all necessary FIFA requirements".

Like Hawk-Eye, GoalControl is a camera-based system, whereas GoalRef and Cairos both use magnetic fields to detect whether the ball has crossed the goal-line or not.

"The use of GoalControl-4D in Brazil is subject to a final installation test at each stadium where the system will be installed, which is a standard procedure as part of the official certification process defined in the GLT Testing Manual," the FIFA statement continued. "These tests will be conducted by an independent test institute."

World football's governing body has completely changed its policy on the use of goal-line technology in recent years. FIFA president Sepp Blatter was a staunch opponent, but he altered his opinion after England midfielder Frank Lampard was denied a clear goal against Germany at the 2010 World Cup.

IFAB, football's rule-making panel, approved the use of goal-line technology last summer, and last December's Club World Cup marked its first use at an official FIFA tournament.

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