Fifa president Sepp Blatter has revealed that goal-line technology will be introduced for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The 75-year-old ignored repeated calls for technology to be brought in following the controversy at last year’s World Cup in South Africa, when England midfielder Frank Lampard saw an effort ruled out against Germany despite the ball having clearly crossed the line.
That was just one of numerous incidents in recent years and caused controversy because it would have seen Fabio Capello’s side draw level at 2-2 in the second-round match, which they eventually lost 4-1.
But Blatter, who was re-elected earlier in 2011 despite corruption claims and calls for a more modern approach in the game, has recently warmed to the idea of goal-line technology and in an interview with El Mundo Deportivo, he has now suggested it will become a reality at Brazil 2014.
He told the Catalan daily: «Brazil 2014 will have technology to avoid ‘phantom goals.’
«We have two good systems which correspond to the needs we have been considering: reliability, immediacy and [methods that are] uncomplicated to use.»
The full interview is set to be published on Tuesday.