- FIFA
Club World Cup referees to use vanishing spray
FIFA have confirmed it is to allow referees to use vanishing spray to mark out the distance for defensive walls at the Club World Cup next month.
The spray allows officials to paint a white line on the field that marks out the minimum 10-yard (9.15 metres) distance opposition players are required to stand from a free-kick. The line disappears after one minute.
It was trialled in Argentina in 2008 and successfully employed at the 2011 Copa America, and in March 2012 the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved its use across any confederation, member association or league.
A spray produced by Argentine company 9.15 Fair Play Limit was used at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey in July this year and more recently the FIFA U17 World Cup, and it will now be available to referees at the upcoming Club World Cup in Morocco.
FIFA's head of refereeing, Massimo Busacca, told the governing body's official website: "A large majority of the officials considered the spray as a useful and helpful tool.
"The spray has a clear preventive effect: The distance was always respected, so no yellow card for not respecting the distance had to be given throughout the two tournaments played so far. After the Club World Cup in Morocco, further evaluations will be made. We will review the results and discuss if the spray will be used also in future FIFA competitions."
The Club World Cup will be contested by Bayern Munich, Atletico Mineiro, Guangzhou Evergrande, Al-Ahly, Monterrey, Auckland City and hosts Raja Casablanca.
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