Hawk-Eye goal-line technology faces official trial at minor league cup final

By Andrew Warshaw

April 30 – After years of false dawns and broken promises, goal-line technology is to be officially trialled in a match scenario as football’s lawmakers press ahead with further testing pending a final decision on July 2.

Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium on the English south Coast will be the stage on May 16 for “live” use of the Hawk-Eye system during a local cup final between two part-time clubs.

The match concerned, a major breakthrough in the clamour for goal-line technology, will be the Hampshire FA Senior Cup final between Conference South side Eastleigh and Totton of the Southern League Premier Division.

Two rival companies, Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, are vying for the right to be chosen by FIFA as the authorised supplier of goal-line technology for official matches.

Both companies have been chosen for the ongoing second phase of testing by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and both will have their systems tested in at least two matches in the next few weeks in order to check reliability and accuracy.

The GoalRef system, developed by a German/Danish firm, will be tested in two separate matches – possibly a Danish Superliga fixture and a forthcoming international friendly.

The results of the tests will then be provided to the IFAB in time for them to make a decision July 2 – the day after the European Championship Final.

If approved, both systems could be given the green light to be implemented in professional leagues the season after next in time for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

FIFA said the live games chosen would be monitored by observers from the Swiss laboratory that has been coordinating the testing – and not by the referees involved.

“Therefore the GLT (goal-line technology) system will have no influence on the outcome of the matches in which the system is being tested,” a statement said.

The English Football Association has long been pushing for technology and Hampshire FA chief executive Neil Cassar said: “We are delighted to be working with IFAB and FIFA on the testing of goal-line technology and fully support the initiative.

“Whilst the system will not be utilised by the match officials, it is particularly pleasing that the Hampshire FA Senior Cup Final has been selected as the live match for testing which will be the first of its kind.”

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