Hawk-Eye expected by start of 2012 Premier season

The Premier League is on course to use goal-line cameras in all its grounds in 12 months' time, its chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said yesterday. Providing that Fifa approves the technology when it is tested in March, Scudamore said there would be no barrier to introducing it for the 2012-13 season.

"The technology people have to convince Fifa; they are the ones that set the laws of the game," said Scudamore. "But our position is clear. Once Fifa approve those companies then we, the Premier League, will be in the absolute forefront of any move to bring it in."

Scudamore said the impact of cameras judging whether a ball had crossed the line would be small and that it would not lead to them being used for offsides and penalties.

"The amount of times we will be using it will be few compared to cricket," he said. "In a Test match you will get 30 or 40 instances when it [Hawk-Eye] will be used. A referee could go through a whole season without needing it. It will be less frequent than a sending off and some referees go a season without showing a red card. There are around 25 to 30 sendings-off per season and you are not going to get that number of goal-line disputes.

"A ball crossing a line is an absolute matter of fact. Anything else is a matter of opinion; whether it was a foul or not; whether it was inside or outside the box."