Setback for Premier League's hawkeye plans

The Premier League’s hopes of introducing ’Hawkeye’ technology to rule on goal-line controversies have been dealt a crushing blow by football’s rulemakers.

The league had hoped to be given the green light to bring in the system from the 2009/10 season.

But the International FA Board (IFAB) meeting in Gleneagles today ordered a freeze on goal-line technology trials and instead will push ahead with experiments with two extra assistant referees standing behind each goal-line.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick: “I think goal-line technology is now dead in the water and that is a disappointment to the FA, although we absolutely respect the democracy of the International FA Board.”