Goal-line technology (GLT) will be used at this year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup after FIFA on Tuesday launched a tender process for proposals from companies interested in fulfilling the contract for its showpiece competitions, reports SportBusiness. Tuesday's announcement came after the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in July gave the green light to the introduction of GLT by approving the Hawk-Eye and GoalRef systems, which were subsequently given their most high-profile tests to date at the 2012 Club World Cup venues in Toyota and Yokohama.
FIFA said the systems were "successfully" implemented at December's tournament, but added an additional two companies are close to joining Hawk-Eye and GoalRef in securing FIFA licences. A third system, developed in Germany, has already passed the necessary tests with the providers in licensing discussions, while another German system has also been tested with the results due this week.
FIFA said in a statement: "The aim is to use GLT in order to support the match officials and to install a system in all stadia, pending the successful installation, and pre-match referee tests.
"With different technologies on the market, FIFA has launched a tender today, setting out the technical requirements for the two forthcoming competitions in Brazil. The two GLT providers already licensed under FIFA's Quality Programme for GLT, and other GLT providers currently in the licensing process (that must have passed all relevant tests as of today) are invited to submit tenders.
"Interested GLT companies will be invited to join an inspection visit to the Confederations Cup venues, currently scheduled for mid-March, with a final decision due to be confirmed in early April."
