Hawk-Eye put to test as Fifa try goal-line technology

NINE companies, including UK firm Hawk-Eye, will put their goal-line technology systems to the test this autumn as Fifa prepares to make a final decision on the issue next summer.

The sport's world governing body revealed yesterday that the companies had registered for the first phase of testing, which will be carried out between September and December across a range of criteria.

Fifa insists the systems must be capable of alerting referees wherever they happen to be on the pitch when the ball crosses the goal-line, by way of a vibration and visual signal sent to their watches.

Hawk-Eye have confirmed that they are one of the companies who have registered for the tests. The Winchester-based firm's ball-tracking technology is already used for line calls in certain high-profile tennis tournaments and for lbw decision reviews in cricket.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter had been an opponent of the technology, claiming the systems trialled to date had been unreliable and that the professional game should be no different from amateur and grassroots football. However, a number of high-profile refereeing errors - including that of Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda when he failed to spot a Frank Lampard shot had clearly crossed the line in the last-16 meeting between England and Germany at last summer's World Cup - prompted a rethink.

The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) will carry out the independent testing on Fifa's behalf and report back to the sport's rule-making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), at their annual general meeting in London next March.

At that stage any companies whose systems have failed the testing will drop out of the process, with reports on the second stage and a final decision on whether the technology can be implemented to be taken at the IFAB meeting next summer. IFAB will also consider the ongoing experiment with additional assistant referees.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said in May he was hopeful that the English top flight could be using goal-line technology as early as the start of the 2012-13 season.

Meanwhile, Fifa's head of security has warned young footballers are being "trafficked" by gambling syndicates intent on fixing the outcome of matches.

Chris Eaton claims youngsters from "humble origins" are being targeted by criminals who help them earn deals with clubs in Europe and Latin America in return for their compliance in altering the outcome of games.