Fifa chief expects goal-line technology approval in July

The Fifa chief met with Der Kaiser to discuss several proposed changes to the game, including the Euro and World Cup formats, and revealed the two are in agreement

Warsaw: Fifa president Sepp Blatter revealed that he and Franz Beckenbauer are “on the same page” over goal-line technology after the two met in Zurich on Thursday.

The Swiss reiterated the need for technology to be introduced after Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine were denied a goal against England in their decisive Group D fixture on Tuesday, after television replays showed that the ball had crossed the line. Blatter met the Germany legend, who is the head of a Fifa task force in charge of improving the game before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, to discuss several other issues surrounding the sport, and is confident that technology will be introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). “The IFAB will decide on #GLT [goal-line technology] on 5 July – I am confident they will realise that the time has come,” he said on Twitter. The key development the two men talked about was introducing a goal camera into matches as quickly as possible; something the Premier League has already been looking into. Blatter also revealed that he and Beckenbauer discussed further changes, including removing the use of head-to-head records in the group stages when points are level, and abolishing red cards if a penalty is given, meaning Wojciech Szczesny would not have been sent off in Poland’s Euro 2012 opener against Greece. The IFAB has to pass any law change or technology introduction with six votes. Each of the four UK Football Associations has one vote while Fifa has the other four. Goal.com