Fifa hail first use of goal-line technology

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke hailed “a kind of revolution” as the football world prepared for today’s introduction of goal-line technology.

The governing body was staunchly against the use of any form of technology for many years but the winds changed in the wake of the 2010 World Cup, where England were denied a clear goal against Germany despite Frank Lampard’s shot clearly crossing the line.

Since then the journey has been a relatively rapid one and Fifa will try out two systems — UK-based Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, from Germany — at the Club World Cup in Japan, starting with today’s match between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Auckland City.