Sports Technology & Communications News from Around the World

Back in June, FIFA could not decide whether it was Davide Astori or Alessandro Diamanti who scored Italy’s opening goal against Uruguay in the Confederations Cup, so officials went to their back pocket to check the shiny new toy that they had acquired - goal-line technology.

There are two major systems that have been approved when it comes to goal-line technology. The first is Goalref, which FIFA used for the Confederation Cup in June and will also use for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Goalref uses antennae in the posts and crossbar to create and monitor a magnetic field across the face of the goal. The ball has three flexible copper coils under the outer surface that will disrupt the magnetic field when it passes through it. Should a disruption be detected, a signal is sent to the referee’s watch.

The second system is Hawkeye, the Japanese-owned company that has already implemented its technology into other sports, which uses 14 high-definition cameras to create a 3D image of the area being monitored. When the cameras catch the ball crossing the goal-line, a signal is sent to the referee’s watch and ear-piece to indicate a goal.

Next week, the English Premier League will become the first domestic competition to adopt Hawkeye when it kicks off its season on August 17.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was provided a demonstration of Hawkeye, and noted his concern of speed being essential to prevent disputes.

"If the ball goes in, comes out, there is a foul on the defender, and the referee gives a foul on the defender and suddenly the watch vibrates...this kind of incident could maybe happen," Wenger said.

After pausing a moment to think about it, Wenger said the new technology would still be better than to have balls that go in and goals not awarded.

The Hawk-Eye system will be implemented at all 20 Premier League grounds to monitor the ball for all 380 games this season. It will also be used at FA Cup games where the stadiums have the equipment, as well as at Wembley for the Community Shield and England matches.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be using the Goalref version of goal-line technology.