Now that the road has been cleared for goal-line technology in soccer, MLS is already planning for its potential introduction in league play for the 2013 season.
Soccer's International Football Association Board (IFAB), which manages the laws of the game, unanimously approved the use of goal-line technology in a special meeting held at FIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Two companies — GoalRef and Hawk-Eye — participated in the experiments and have been cleared to develop the technology for use in stadiums. FIFA has plans to employ the goal-line systems at the FIFA Club World Cup, the Confederations Cup and the World Cup.
“Major League Soccer is pleased by the International FA Board’s decision to approve two types of goal-line technology for use in FIFA competitions and professional leagues,” MLS executive vice president of competition and game operations Nelson Rodriguez said in a league statement.
Back in April, Commissioner Don Garber told a gathering of reporters that he "would be open to whatever it is that could be done to ensure that we have goal-line technology."
According to the league's statement on Thursday, that day could come as early as 2013.
“MLS is eager to begin the process toward implementing one of these advancements, but we first need to research the installation, testing, staffing and training required," Rodriguez added in the statement. "It is unlikely that either system could be in place for our games in 2012, but we will examine the feasibility of doing so by the start of our 18th season in 2013.”
