Sport Innovation/Goal-line Technology/FIFA Testing Criteria for Goal-line technologies

FIFA have released the criteria they have developed in order to determine each of the nine technologies accuracy, reliability and instantaneousness [1]. The nine technologies will be evaluated using a pass or fail assessment system with 100% accuracy required. The four criteria include:


 * 1) The technology applies solely to the goal-line and only to determine whether a goal has been scored
 * 2) The system must be accurate
 * 3) The indication of whether a goal has been scored must be immediate and automatically confirmed within one second
 * 4) The indication of whether a goal has been scored will only be communicated to the match officials (via the referee's watch, by vibration and visual signal) [2]

During phase one all of the technologies will be tested with varying levels of lighting, speed of the ball, different angles of trajectory[3]. Not only with the technology be tested with regards to the ball going through the goal posts but the ball will also be tested to determine if players will have the same control of the ball embedded with the technology as one without [1].

Phase two of the testing will be more intensive and will take in various elements such as climatic conditions and receptiveness of referees' watches, which would receive the verdicts from the technology [1].

The findings from the testing will be presented by Empa to the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Those who meet the criteria will be voted on by the board which is comprised of the Football Association (FA), the Irish FA, the Welsh FA, the Scottish FA and FIFA. Each of the FA’s have one vote while FIFA who will act on behalf of the rest of the world, has four votes. The decision to implement one of the GLTs must be approved by three-quarters of the IFAB member [4].