FIFA look at goal-line technology accuracy

FIFA are preparing to appoint an independent company to test the accuracy of goal-line technology systems, it has been revealed.

The move is the first step towards embracing goal-line technology and follows presentations of 13 systems to FIFA officials last week.

The issue will be discussed at next week's business meeting of the International FA Board in Cardiff, with the likely outcome that a company will be appointed to investigate the systems in March.

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Paul Hawkins, managing director of Hawkeye whose system is used in cricket and tennis, told the Yorkshire Post: "FIFA's plan would be to appoint an independent company to be responsible for testing all the systems and it looks pretty promising that will happen.

"This is something we have been pushing for because you need the confidence of proper scientific criteria."

The proposed systems are either camera-based, such as Hawkeye's, or sensor-based such as the Adidas/Cairos idea of a micro-chip inside the ball.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter ordered that the IFAB, football's law-making body, look again at goal-line technology after Frank Lampard's infamous shot for England against Germany in the World Cup that clearly crossed the line but was not awarded as a goal.

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His U-turn came just a month after FIFA had first ruled out going down the technology road at all.

A number of players and staff at Dundee are expected to lose their jobs in the next 24 hours after the club were officially put into administration.

The Irn-Bru First Division club announced last week that they had no other option after being unable to negotiate the payment of a 365,000 tax bill.

IPSWICH defender Darren O'Dea faces up to six weeks on the sidelines after undergoing a knee operation.

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The 23-year-old Celtic loanee sustained the original injury last month when he was on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

After aggravating it in the warm-up ahead of the Leeds game he had surgery in London to cure the problem.

COVENTRY will be without Danny Ward for around a month after the on-loan youngster returned to Bolton to undergo a hernia operation.