England's Friendly With Belgium To Host Hawk-Eye Goal-Line Technology Test

England-Belgium To Host Goal-Line Technology Test

England's friendly with Belgium on 2 June will host a goal-line technology test.

The Wembley fixture, which has sold out its 90,000 capacity, will accommodate the Hawk-Eye technology as independent testers analyse its compatibility with football.

However the match officials will not have access to data and the trial will have no impact on any possible contentious goal-line decisions.

The first live test of camera-based system was conducted earlier this month in the Hampshire Senior Cup final at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium.

English football has long advocated the use of video assistance in a bid to restrict erroneous decisions being made by officials.

In the 2011/12 season, there were a series of goal-line flashpoints which further drummed up support for resorting to it.

QPR defender Clint Hill had a header cross the line at 0-0 during the Rs' Premier League away match at Bolton Wanderers, however the linesman gave no goal. Bolton went on to win the game 2-1.

A month later, error-strewn referee Martin Atkinson awarded Juan Mata a goal and Chelsea a 2-0 lead in their FA Cup semi-final versus Tottenham Hotspur. Replays showed the ball had clearly not crossed the line and Chelsea won 5-1.

The previous campaign, Spurs were also the victims of an erroneous decision against the Blues when Frank Lampard was awarded a goal at Stamford Bridge, with the score at 1-0. Spurs lost the match 2-1.

Juventus' unbeaten Serie A campaign would have been under serious threat too had Sulley Muntari's "ghost goal" been given when they visited AC Milan for a top-of-the-table clash.

Muntari's effort was well over the line with the Rossoneri in the lead, but none of the officials flagged to signal a goal. Juventus drew the match 1-1 and won the Scudetto.

The German, Swiss and Dutch football associations are also believed to have expressed an interest in adopting the method.

Chelsea, ironically, could bear the brunt of its accuracy at Fifa's World Club Cup competition in Japan this winter, as the tournament is viewed as an opportunity to feature one of the systems.

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