Soccer panel set to approve goal-line technology

July 5, 2012 | Modified: July 5, 2012 at 7:31 am
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FILE - In this June 19, 2012 filer, England's John Terry clears the ball away from his goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group D match between England and Ukraine in Donetsk, Ukraine. UEFA has called on FIFA's law-making panel to delay a decision on approving goal line technology next week. The European football body also pledged full support Saturday for its rival five-officials method of refereeing promoted by its president Michel Platini, despite an obvious error which denied Ukraine a goal in a decisive European Championship group match against England. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

ZURICH (AP) — Soccer's rules-making panel is set to approve goal-line technology, clearing FIFA to use it at the 2014 World Cup.

Two years after Sepp Blatter reversed his opposition to high-tech aids for referees, FIFA's president will help decide on Thursday if two systems passed trials to prove they can accurately judge when balls cross the goal line.

The panel, known as IFAB, could approve either or both of Hawk-Eye and GoalRef for use in leagues and competitions that choose to pay for them.

Blatter has backed goal-line technology since England was denied a clear goal when losing to Germany at the 2010 World Cup.

Last month, Blatter said it was a "necessity" after England benefited from another high-profile refereeing error, helping eliminate co-host Ukraine at the European Championship.