FIFA awards GoalControl World Cup contract

Rio de Janeiro, April 4 (IANS) German firm GoalControl has been awarded a contract by world football’s governing body FIFA to provide goal-line technology during June’s Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The firm, which was the last of four bidders to win a FIFA licence in February, uses 14 high-speed cameras with seven trained on each goalmouth, reports Xinhua.

“The use of GoalControl-4D in Brazil is subject to a final installation test at each stadium where the system will be installed,” FIFA said in a statement.

Other bidders included GoalRef and Cairos, which use magnetic chips inside the ball, and Hawk-eye, another camera system used in cricket and tennis.

GoalControl owner Dirk Broichhausen said the product’s practicality and simplicity were its key appeal.

“The difference with other competitors is that we can use standard goals, balls and nets. There is no modification necessary,” Broichhausen said.

The system will cost an estimated $260,000 per stadium to install and $3,900 per match to operate.

Like the other bidders, GoalControl is capable of sending a signal to the referee’s wristwatch within a second of an disputed goal.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, previously averse to goal-line technology, changed his mind after England midfielder Frank Lampard had a goal disallowed against Germany at the 2010 World Cup.

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