FIFA signs goal-line deals

Berlin - Football's world governing body FIFA has signed licence agreements with two companies to provide goal-line technology systems.

FIFA said on Tuesday the agreements were a "milestone" along the way to the introduction of goal-line technology.

The deal means that GoalRef and Hawk-Eye have official authorisation to install their respective goal-line technology systems worldwide, FIFA said in a statement.

The systems will tested again at the Club World Cup in Japan in December.

Football's rule-making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), approved the use of the technology in July.

It followed a number of controversial decisions in which goals were disallowed although the ball had crossed the line.

Both companies passed a series of laboratory and field tests in both simulated match situations and live matches.

FIFA will leave any decisions to use the technology to national leagues, and said the systems would still have to pass tests in stadiums.

"Once a system has been installed in a stadium, the system undergoes a final inspection to check its functionality. This is carried out by an independent test institute, and the results of this so-called 'final installation test' must be successful." it said.

"Only a positive final installation test qualifies a system to be used in official matches."