By Andrew Warshaw
October 1 – UEFA have been quick to respond to reports in Germany warning against the use of vanishing spray by saying it will continue to use the recent innovation to mark out defensive walls in its competitions.
Following safety tests carried out by the country’s technical inspection agency, Technischer Überwachungs-Verein (TueV), trade watchdog officials in Germany say the spray, successfully introduced at the World Cup and due to be used in Germany’s top two divisions following the upcoming international break, is a health hazard in its present form and therefore unusable in Germany and the European Union.
The reports caused widespread alarm, not least at UEFA whose club competitions are in full swing this week and whose 2016 European qualifying campaign resumes shortly.
TueV said the packaging for the spray, used to stop defenders from encroaching at freekicks just outside the penalty area and which disappears after one minute, neglected to mention that the substance was highly flammable and that none of the packaging text was in German.
In a statement UEFA said it had taken note of the findings and is ” now aware that the labelling on the can did not include all the relevant information in the correct format”.
But it re-assured member countries and clubs that the foam-based material did not break EU regulations and could continue to be used while it seeks further clarification about a product that has suddenly become a major talking point after being employed for several years in South American football.
“The product can be used in EU territories without any restriction since it does not contain substances which would prohibit its use,” UEFA said. “Accordingly UEFA considers that the vanishing spray can continue to be used in its competitions and referees will continue to use the product as per the instructions provided by UEFA.”
Nevertheless, UEFA said it was taking “immediate steps to clarify the information provided to referees in relation to the use of the vanishing spray and will also require the supplier to rectify the packaging-related issues as soon as possible.” Otherwise, said UEFA, it will use “an alternative supplier.”
The issue is clearly being taken extremely seriously, especially in Germany. Yesterday, the city of Gelsenkirchen warned referee Carlos Velasco Carballo to not use vanishing spray in the Champions League match between Schalke 04 and Maribor as a result of the study, commissioned by Germany’s biggest selling tabloid, Bild.
The match was the first at European level played in Germany since the TÜV survey but the matter was somehow resolved ahead of the game since Spanish refereee Carlos Velscao Carballo was clearly seen to use the spray.
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