FIFA Unveils Goal-line Technology at Club World Cup in Japan

  • 12 years ago
Prompted into action by England midfielder's Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany at the 2010 World Cup, FIFA will use goal-line technology for the first time in Japan this week.

The technology will be employed in Thursday's (December 6) Club World Cup curtain raiser between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Auckland City as soccer's governing body finally answers calls for it to join the 21st century.

Hawk-eye, widely used in cricket and tennis, and GoalRef, which uses a microchip in the ball and low magnetic waves around the goal, will be used at venues in Toyota and Yokohama.

Goal Ref demonstrated their system in Yokohama on Wednesday (December 5), one day ahead of the opening match of the tournament between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Auckland City FC. Operations Manager Thomas Pellkofer said he had been happy with the reaction so far.

"There is no argumentation from the referee against technology because the technology is a support for the referee at the end of the day, and it's as you have it in the car you can choose whether you use the full-brakes ABS or you don't use it," he said.

"So, the referee has this as an assistant. His assistant will tell him that there is a goal he then finally decides whether the goal is in or because of certain circumstances this goal cannot be counted."

After analyzing data taken from the Club World Cup, FIFA will choose which system to implement for the six Confederations Cup venues by the end of March.