FIFA to Give Final Ruling on Goal-Line Technology in July

FIFA, football’s governing body has promised a decision will be made on whether goal-line technology will be used after a International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting on July 2.

The game’s world governing body also confirmed the preceding IFAB meeting next month would include a discussion on whether to allow teams to make a fourth substitution during matches that go into extra-time.

In addition, the March 3 gathering in Surrey will look at proposed changes to the rule which sees players sent off and suspended for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity in instances which also see a penalty awarded.

Those are among eight proposals and amendments to the laws of the game on the agenda.

The experiments into goal-line technology and additional assistant referees will be discussed next month.

But a final decision on the future of both will be taken at a special meeting which is planned for July 2, the day after the European Championship final.

In an interview in December, Blatter said technology was inevitable.

“We’ll do it. FIFA cannot accept a repeat of what happened in South Africa when a ball was 70cm over the line and was ruled out,” he said, referring to Lampard’s goal.

However UEFA president Michel Platini, seen as the favourite to succeed Blatter, is sceptical about technology, instead favouring the deployment of extra match officials behind the goal.

“What scares me is that if we start to use technology for things that have little point, we will also move onto offside technology, because there are five offsides per match,” Platini said recently.

“The (FIFA) Board will decide but I have the right to disagree and I don’t think it’s a good idea.”