Mixed Twitter reaction to World Cup vanishing spray

Last night saw the first use in a World Cup of vanishing spray.

The white substance was sprayed from an aerosol can carried by the referee on his belt. It is for use primarily to draw a temporary white line to mark the ten yard area during free kicks, and can also be used to indicate the spot from which the free is to be taken. It disappears after a minute.

The sprays have been in use in Major League soccer in the US for several years, and were also used during the 2011 Copa America and a number of international youth tournaments. This was their first appearance at the biggest football competition of them all, and reaction on Twitter was mixed.

Rugby star Peter O’Mahony was one of many initially confused.

Did that reff just spray a line to mark the 10 yards?

— Peter O'Mahony (@peterom6) June 12, 2014

There was a suggestion of superpowers from some….

And it was all too futuristic for others.

Vanishing spray walls… what the feck is this futuristic nonsense marty mcfly??

— Buzz O'Neill-Maxwell (@buzzoneill) June 12, 2014

This tweeter thought it might be just one weapon in the ref’s arsenal...

New for 2014: the ref has a spray to herd the wall back 10 metres. If they still refuse to retreat, he's also got tear gas and a baton.

— There Or Thereabouts (@Back_of_the_Net) June 12, 2014

...Gary Lineker pondered alternative uses.

I like this vanishing spray FIFA are using for this World Cup. Would it work on Sepp Blatter?

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 12, 2014

However, we all know the really important question was - what could this mean for the hurling?

Surely vanishing spray for penalties and 20m frees in hurling is the next logical step?!

— ConorMcKeon (@ConorMcKn) June 12, 2014

That spray can could come in handy in Thurles on Sunday #nashrule

— Marie Crowe (@mariecrowe) June 12, 2014