Goal-line technology will be introduced into English football as early as the new year after two systems were approved by the game's law-makers in a "momentous" decision.
The Barclays Premier League will enter into talks with Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, the two manufacturers of the systems, about bringing the technology in as soon as midway through the season, while it could be used for next season's FA Cup semi-finals and final.
The move follows a unanimous decision by the International FA Board (IFAB) in Zurich yesterday.
FA general secretary Alex Horne said the Hawk-Eye system installed last month at Wembley for a trial is still there – and could be used for FA Cup or England matches.
He said: "It is perfectly possible to introduce it halfway through the season. We have already got Hawk-Eye at Wembley – it needs to be calibrated and to make sure it's working properly and licensed, so we are nearly there and we could turn on Hawk-Eye quite quickly.
"The FA Cup would be our decision and we could, for the semi-finals and finals of the FA Cup, turn it on. I don't think that is very controversial. England is harder as we are part of someone else's competition, so we would need FIFA to agree we could use that in that campaign. We need to go back and talk to the Premier League; everything I hear is that they want it. We might as well agree which one we want, then nail a deal together."
While there has been no decision regarding Scotland, Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan said: "This is not designed to be put on giant screens, this is about technology designed to help the referee."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he had changed his mind about goal-line technology after Frank Lampard's disallowed goal for England v Germany in the 2010 World Cup, and the issue was again highlighted when Ukraine were denied a goal against England in Euro 2012 despite the ball having crossed the line.
Blatter said: "It became evident the moment what happened in South Africa in 2010 [happened]. I have to say 'thank you Lampard'. I was completely down in South Africa when I saw that. It happened again in Ukraine, and Ukraine can still not believe it."
Blatter insisted, however, that there will be no move to introduce video replays or other technology to rule on decisions such as offsides, fouls or diving.
He added: "Other than the goal-line technology, football must preserve its human face."
"Goal-line technology is where this starts and finishes for us. None of us thinks technology interfering with the free-flowing nature of football is good for the game," Horne added.
FA chairman David Bernstein hailed "a momentous day", adding: "I'm proud to have been part of this decision."
The first use of the systems will be at FIFA's Club World Cup in Japan in December, with each system in one of the two stadia. It will then be extended to next year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said the organisation would pay for the systems – costing some £97,000 to £160,000 per stadium – and would leave them in place after the end of the tournaments.
IFAB also approved UEFA's system of having two additional assistant referees, one next to each goal, with the competition organisers allowed to use them if they so wished.
IFAB also agreed to allow headscarves to be worn by players after requests from some Muslim countries. A decision on the design and colour of the scarves will be made later this year.
The board ruled out any video replays of goal-line decisions being shown on TV or on big screens to the crowd at stadiums, as happens with the Hawk-Eye system in tennis.
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