FIFA confirms using goal-line technology at 2014 World Cup in Brazil; 4 systems to compete

ZURICH - FIFA committed Tuesday to using goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and could have four systems competing for selection.

FIFA said it is now seeking tenders from companies which want their system to be used at the Confederations Cup in June and next year's World Cup.

"Interested GLT companies will be invited to join an inspection visit to the Confederations Cup venues, currently scheduled for mid-March, with a final decision due to be confirmed in early April," FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter insisted on giving World Cup referees high-tech aids to make goal-line decisions after seeing England midfielder Frank Lampard have a clear goal denied against Germany at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Tuesday's decision was expected once FIFA's rule-making panel, known as IFAB, decided last July to approve goal-line technology at competitive matches after two systems passed extensive tests.

The camera-based Hawk-Eye system and GoalRef, which uses magnetic sensors, were used at the Club World Cup in Japan in December.

Those two systems were expected to compete for World Cup duty, though two competitors are making late entries in the contest.

FIFA said two German systems have completed tests and could soon be approved for use. The companies are not being formally identified until licensing is approved.

One system has passed tests devised for FIFA by a Zurich-based technical institute, and results for the second are expected this month, FIFA said.

Hawk-Eye is already used in tennis and cricket. The English company was bought by Sony Corp., a World Cup sponsor, during the testing process.

GoalRef uses magnetic sensors in the goalposts to track an "intelligent" ball, made by Danish company Select.

Both systems relay information within one second to the referee's wristwatch. Both passed all pre-game tests in Japan but were not called upon to determine a goal.

Before the 2010 World Cup, Blatter had long opposed taking the human element of decision-making from referees. He changed his stance after seeing match officials miss Lampard's shot bounce off the crossbar and land fully over the goal line in Bloemfontein. England would have levelled at 2-2 before halftime but lost 4-1 in the second round.

Blatter said two days later that FIFA should reopen the debate, although video replay remains off limits for judgment calls.

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