ZURICH AFP - Football's world governing body FIFA has agreed to allow the introduction of goal line technology (GLT) at a meeting of the sport's executives here on Thursday.
The technology will be used at the Club World Cup in Tokyo in December, the Confederation Cup in 2013 and also the World Cup in 2014.
The decision by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) — custodians of the game's laws — followed a vote at the Zurich headquarters of FIFA, the international association of football federations.
It means footballing authorites around the world can introduce the technology into their competitions, using either the Hawk-Eye or GoalRef systems that have been undergoing tests.
The development comes after FIFA president Sepp Blatter lent his weight to calls for the technology to be introduced after Ukraine was denied an apparent goal against England in the recent Euro 2012 championships, losing 1-0.
"After last night's match (GLT) is no longer an alternative, but a necessity," Blatter Tweeted.