IFAB Appove New Technology

Following a meeting of the International Football Association Board in Wales today FIFA is expected to use a new football with an embedded microchip as part of new goal-line technology throughout the Under-20 World championships in Peru later this year.

After a series of controversial decisions (highlighted after Spurs were denied a clear goal at Manchester United when goalkeeper Roy Carroll dropped the ball behind the line, missed by the officials) relating to goals the game's governing body has agreed to an experiment to see if it could bring about an end to controversies over goal-line decisions.

German sportswear giant Adidas tested the device in Nuremberg prior to today's meeting and presented their findings to the board.

A football would have a microchip inside, alerting the referee via a bleeper system when it crosses the line. This allows the game to flow and would prevent stoppages video replays could present.

IFAB are impressed that this technology can be utilised without causing delay to the game and the English FA has already offered to experiment with the revolutionary new ball.

Adidas is developing the new ball with two other German-based companies and the ball could even be developed sufficiently to be in place for next year's World Cup, held in Germany.