Premier League votes to introduce goal-line technology

The Premier League has announced that it has awarded the British-based company Hawk-Eye with the contract to provide goal-line technology systems across its 20 member clubs and all 380 Barclays Premier League matches.

The 20 top division clubs voted to introduce the technology from next season and it will be used for all Barclays Premier League games.

The Premier League said: "The camera-based system will be installed during the close season ready for use on the opening weekend of the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season – Saturday 17 August.

"This will be the first time that goal-line technology is used in any domestic competition."

The agreement follows a lengthy debate magnified by incidents such as the disallowed Frank Lampard strike during England's 2010 World Cup defeat to Germany, where replays showed the ball had clearly crossed the line.

Hawk-Eye, a world leading vision technology company, have successfully brought their technology to sports such as cricket and tennis.

The Barclays Premier League will be the first domestic football competition to utilise the technology.

UEFA, the sport's governing body in Europe is thought to remain opposed to such use of the technology, and the debate about the rights and wrongs and extent of its implementation is likely to intensify after today's announcement.