The “smartball” being used at FIFA’s Under-17 world championship in Peru is proving accurate and popular, officials have confirmed.
The ball – which contains a microchip designed to help the referee determine if it has crossed the goal line – had worked well.
“Cairos and Adidas are pleased with the performance of the chip and construction of the ball,” Guenter Pfau, Adidas AG’s manager for relations with FIFA, told Reuters.
“The feedback from the referees is forward-looking, positive – they are taking it as a tool,” he added.
The ball, developed by Adidas, is being tested in competition for the first time.
The ball sends a radio signal when it crosses the line and the message reaches the referee’s wrist in less than one second.
“Until now we’ve had very positive feedback,” said FIFA spokesman Andreas Werz.
“We haven’t had one critical situation – like the third goal in Wembley in 1966,” he added, referring to the controversial extra-time goal that helped England to their 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup final.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed the trial in Peru and has said the ball can be used in next year’s World Cup finals next year if the experiement proves to be a success.
