English Premiership
EPL eyes goal-line technology
2013-02-20 18:10
London - The English Premier League on Wednesday confirmed its intention to introduce goal-line technology in time for the start of the 2013-14 season.
World football's governing body FIFA announced on Tuesday that technology providing instant verdicts on goal-line decisions will be used for the first time at the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June.
The English top flight has been in talks since last year with two companies, Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, over the introduction of one of the two systems.
Both systems were successfully trialled at the Club World Cup in Japan in December and the Premier League says it hopes to be able to make use of the technology from the start of next season.
"The Premier League has been a long-term advocate for goal-line technology," read a statement from the Premier League.
"We have held discussions with FIFA licensed providers with a view to introducing it as soon as is practically possible."
The Premier League's implementation of the technology could be delayed by the tendering process involving the two rival companies.
Hawk-Eye, a British company, and GoalRef, a German firm, were tested against each other at the Club World Cup and the Premier League is reported to be looking to agree a deal with only one of them.
Both firms were awarded licences by FIFA last year, but there are reports that two other companies could also be granted licences by April.