Football news: Goal-line system yes, snoods no

Goal-line technology could be in place for the 2014 World Cup if a suitable system is found - but players will no longer be allowed to wear snoods, it was announced yesterday.

The International FA Board (IFAB), the game's law-making body, approved experiments on goal-line systems for an extra year and have banned snoods, on safety grounds, from 1 July.

Manchester City players Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Mario Balotelli plus Arsenal's Samir Nasri, pictured, and Marouane Chamakh have all favoured the neck-warmers but they had already been outlawed by Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson.

FIFA believe snoods posed a safety risk if opponents grab them when players are running at speed. FIFA president Sepp Blatter explained: "It can also be dangerous, it can be like to hang somebody. I was a football player in winter and summer and have never worn that and we must also pay attention to the law that says what the equipment is."

The IFAB meeting also agreed to allow UEFA to use their system of five match officials at the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine next year. The two extra officials will be behind the goal-line but on the side of the goal next to the assistant referee.

The decision on goal-line technology comes despite 10 systems failing FIFA tests last month.

Blatter said he would welcome the use of goal-line technology at the 2014 tournament in Brazil if a suitable system can be found.

He said: "If it works definitely, the board will say yes to the technology (next year]. And, if the board says yes, then there is no problem, then there should be no problem to have it in 2014.

"But I have to restrict my natural optimism and come a little bit back because the tests we have had so far are not conclusive."

Blatter said three of the systems had a good chance of passing the tests. Hawkeye's system, which was not one of the 10 systems tested, would also be looked at, he said.