By Andrew Warshaw
October 23 – One of the two companies developing goal-line technology say “all the big leagues” in Europe including the Premier League have made contact with a view to implementation its system.
GoalRef, a Danish-German concept using magnetic sensors and a coil in the ball, and the camera-based Hawk-Eye system are both due to be used at the FIFA Club World Cup in December and, if successful, the Brazil World Cup in 2014.
“We have spoken to all the big leagues – including the Premier League,” said René Dünkler, project manager of Fraunhofer, the company behind GoalRef.
“They are really interested.
“I believe one or two top leagues could be using us or Hawkeye by next season or the season after.”
Dünkler says opposition to goal-line technology, primarily from UEFA boss Michel Platini, is misplaced.
Platini favours two extra officials to help the referee and says technology is too expensive.
However, Dünkler says that is being shortsighted.
“Installation is easy and service costs are very low,” Dünkler told insideworldfootball.
“In the future the technology will become cheaper and cheaper enabling lower leagues to use it too.
“We have always said that the referee would still have the last word.
“GoalRef would only be an aid.
“We can say within one second whether the ball has crossed the line.”
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