Goal-line technology set for 2013-14

The Football Association expects goal-line technology to be formally approved in time for the 2013-14 Premier League campaign at a meeting of clubs this week, an FA official said on Tuesday. Last week, world governing body FIFA appointed a German firm, GoalControl, to provide the technology (GLT) at the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June. If successful, it will then be used at next year's World Cup. FA general secretary Alex Horne said he expected Premier League clubs to ratify use of the technology when they convene on Thursday. "I always thought it was an ideal piece of technology to allow into the game," said Horne. "The (Premier League) club meeting is on Thursday, so I'm expecting it to go through at that meeting." The Premier League is reportedly keen to introduce GLT and last year met licensed companies Hawk-Eye and GoalRef to discuss installing their systems at top-flight grounds. London's Wembley Stadium was also used for an experiment with British system Hawk-Eye during a friendly between England and Belgium last year, although the results were not made public. "There are occasions (when GLT is needed) and we've seen them here at Wembley, we've seen them in World Cups, we've seen them 11 or 12 times in the Premier League this season alone," Horne told the BBC. "So technology that says 'Yes, the ball has crossed the line' and lets the referee know makes an awful lot of sense to me." Source: AFP