London 2012 football competitions could feature goalline technology

LONDON 2012 could be the first major football tournament to feature goal-line technology.

TIME FOR CHANGE: Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke reveals London 2012 could be the first major football competition to use goalline technology (Action Images)

Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke has confirmed this weekend's clash between Spain and Holland will be the last World Cup finals match played under the existing refereeing system.

The International Football Association Board - the game's rule making body which consists of representatives of the English, Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh FAs as well as four representatives from Fifa - is due to a discuss a range of options at meeting scheduled for later this month.

They have already heard proposals from two companies - Cairos Goal-line technology, which uses a microchip inside the ball and magnetic fields around the goal, and Hawk-Eye, which uses television cameras positioned around the goal and is widely used in tennis and cricket.

In addition, they will also discuss adding two more assistant referees to each officiating team to police goal-line incidents, following successful trials in the UEFA Europa League.

Ifab have previously rejected both ideas, although their major concern was not the concept but introducing the new systems at the ongoing World Cup without adequate time for trials.

Fifa president and IOC member Sepp Blatter has also previously rejected calls for the introduction of goal-line technology or TV replays but made a u-turn on those comments after Frank Lampard's 'goal' in England's 4-1 World Cup second round defeat by Germany.

However, it is believed an agreement could be reached by early next year and any changes could be in place for the Fifa-organised Olympic tournament, in which a Great Britain football team will make their first appearance at the Games since 1960.

"After what happened to England in South Africa and the most famous goalline incident happening at the 1966 World Cup final Wembley, there is a nice symmetry for introducing any changes ahead of the 2012 Olympics," said an insider, close to one of the home union members of Ifab.

"I think there is now a feeling that something must be done but considered reflection is required. There was a rush to make a quick decision after what happened with the Thierry Henry handball in Paris and rightly it was decided to wait and reflect.

"There are four years before the next World Cup, but Fifa's most important other tournament is the Olympics and the timeframe should be achievable for 2012."