Carling Cup final will use goal-line technology

Goal-line technology will be used for the first time in next month's Carling Cup final in the Millennium Stadium, it has emerged.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants footballs containing microchips to end debates over whether the ball has crossed the goal-line and gave the goahead to the trial before the controversy at Old Trafford last night.

A new system invented by sports company adidas will be tested for the first time on a one-off basis in the prestigious fixture in Cardiff on 27 February.

Adidas will then present the new system, which involves sensors in the goal and a microchip in the ball, using the same technology already deployed in tennis, to the International Board meeting next month.

If it is approved, the system could be used in the Premiership as early as next season.

The technique will involve a fourth official in the stands watching the match on a monitor. An alarm will sound in his earpiece if the ball crosses the line and he will be able to immediately notify the referee on the pitch.

Decisions would be made within seconds of the incident happening.

Coincidentally, the Carling Cup final could also involve Manchester United's Northern Ireland goalkeeper Roy Carroll as Sir Alex Ferguson's team face Chelsea in a two-legged semi-final later this month to decide who will play the winners of Liverpool-Watford in the final.

While Blatter is against the use of video replays for incidents in matches, including offside, he said FIFA were keen to determine whether technology could aid the referee to determine whether the ball had crossed the goalline or not.

In an interview with France Football magazine to be published today, Blatter said: "One thing that is possible and for which we're looking for an acceptable solution is the control of the goal line to find out whether the ball was in or out."

UEFA, European football's governing body, is also keen to make use of video technology but is similarly reluctant to use it for offsides.

"There are different technologies in other sports which we have to look into," Lars-Christer Olsson, the UEFA chief executive, said in a recent interview. "It has to be a technology that would be suitable for football. I think everybody is in agreement that the f low of the game should not be interrupted. We will look into the matter to see if we can come back with solutions."

The use of video replays probably would be rather limited. "If there is a technology which helps the referee take the correct decision, and it's instant, then this would be preferable," Olsson said. "It could be to see whether a ball has crossed the goal-line or not, but I have difficulties to see the use (of new technology) in offside."

Football history might have been significantly different had refereeaiding video equipment been positioned on goal-lines in the past.

England's third goal in the 4-2 victory over West Germany at Wembley in the 1966 World Cup final appeared - from cameras at an angle to the line - not to have been a proper goal. Debate about that goal rages nearly 40 years on.

Leading football figures today threw their weight behind the new technology.

Arsene Wenger claimed that Tottenham's disallowed goal at Old Trafford provided further dramatic proof of the need for video technology to be introduced to the Premiership.

The Arsenal coach is convinced that video evidence would have shown that the long shot by Mendes was fumbled over the goal-line Carroll in last night's goalless draw and therefore saved the match referee from making a serious error.

As it was, referee Mark Clattenburg refused to acknowledge the 'goal' and waved play on - bewildering millions of TV viewers who had seen the ball clearly cross the line.

"The world would have seen that it was a goal at Old Trafford," said Wenger. "It simply reinforces what I think should be introduced - video evidence.

"That was a great example. A video recording would have shown in five seconds that it was a goal."

Wenger believes that video evidence should be used where there is uncertainty about major refereeing decisions, such as the handball by Chelsea's Tiago that Mike Riley missed at Anfield, thus denying Liverpool a clear penalty.

Pundit Alan Hansen added: "The debate will rage on, there will be controversy after controversy and eventually they will bring in new technology."