An error in judgment can cost a lot; sometimes leading to loss of life and on other occasions loss of a tournament. Most of you may recollect the incident that happened way back in 1966. During the World Cup, Geoff Hurst's third goal in extra time appeared not to have crossed the line; however the infamous "Russian linesman", who actually came from Azerbaijan, ruled the ball had crossed the line. In the game of football accurate referee judgment is of utmost importance. To aid the referee to make accurate decisions, technology has been roped in. A hi-tech football has been developed which has been fitted with special sensor chips. Wires embedded in the pitch around the goalmouth emit a magnetic field which can detect the presence of the ball. The football can then be tracked and its exact position around the pitch determined. An encrypted signal is then sent to a watch worn by the referee to let them know whether the ball has crossed the line. This football was successfully tested during a match in Japan.

Soon these Hi-tech footballs will make their way to Premiership football matches. The International Football Association Board (which lays down the rules of football), say that any such technology must be proved to be 100 per cent accurate before it can be used in professional tournaments, including the World Cup. Adidas's Head of FIFA Affairs Gunter Pfau says, "We are very satisfied. No ball was damaged, all the systems during the games worked and the players' feedback here has been very positive. This technology is for more transparency and to support the referee in making more accurate decisions." Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also supports this technology.

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