Europeans will test microchip-embedded soccer balls
28 Feb, 2005 Athletic Turf NewsCardiff, Wales, England — At the 2005 FIFA under-17 World Championship in Peru next fall, the organization will test the use of a soccer ball embedded with microchips that will beep a wrist-watch device on a referee's wrist when it crosses the goal line.
Adidas, a FIFA partner, German-based Cairos AG and the Fraunhofer Institute presented the details of the microchip system to the International Football Association Board at its meeting in Wales on February 26, 2005.
"Not a day goes by without technology making progress. We therefore have a duty to at least examine whether new technology could be used in football," said Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA president. "The critical issue, however, will be to ensure that such technology would not affect the Laws' universal nature or the authority of match officials."
Related stories:
"'Smart' ball to help football ref," BBC, February 26, 2005.
"International F.A. Board approves goal-line technology experiments - no more "passive" offside," FIFA press release, February 26, 2005.
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