Replay heading to International Football Association

Systems aimed at implementing goal-line technology in football matches will be developed further following the approval of the International Football Association Board (Ifab). The board convened in Manchester to make the decision, following presentations from firms including a joint proposal from the Premier League and cricket technology system manufacturer Hawk-Eye.

Such projects will now continue development along the lines of the Ifab recommendations, which included the demand that the technology must be shown to be 100 per cent accurate.

Other conditions outlined by the board included the insistence that decisions made by the systems must be sent to the referee immediately so as to eliminate any potential hold-up to play.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick said that the growing number of high-profile occurrences of contentious goal-line decisions, including that involving a header by Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic in a recent FA Cup tie against Portsmouth, had made the introduction of such technology crucial.

“This is a critical moment and there is a general consensus that this is the time to move forward,” he said.

“We all believe that goal-line technology is the right way forward for the game.”

Ifab is made up of the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish Football associations along with Fifa, with each body represented by four delegates.